DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 thy·mus a.  Anat. Of, pertaining to, or designating, the thymus gland. -- n. The thymus gland.
 Thymus gland, or Thymus body, a ductless gland in the throat, or in the neighboring region, of nearly all vertebrates.  In man and other mammals it is the throat, or neck, sweetbread, which lies in the upper part of the thorax and lower part of the throat.  It is largest in fetal and early life, and disappears or becomes rudimentary in the adult.  The thymus gland functions as the site of maturation of T-lymphocytes (T-cells), which confer cell-mediated immunity on the host organism;  thus, removal or malfunciton of the thymus can lead to absence of cell-mediated immunity, and a consequent loss of resistance to infection.
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 thymus gland
      n : a ductless glandular organ at the base of the neck that
          produces lymphocytes and aids in producing immunity;
          atrophies with age [syn: thymus]