Thymus

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  thymus \thy"mus\ (th[imac]"m[u^]s), a. [NL., fr. Gr. qy`mos.]
     (Anat.)
     Of, pertaining to, or designating, the thymus gland. -- n.
     The thymus gland.
     [1913 Webster]
  


     {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.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Thymus
       n 1: large genus of Old World mints: thyme [syn: {genus Thymus}]
       2: a ductless glandular organ at the base of the neck that
          produces lymphocytes and aids in producing immunity;
          atrophies with age [syn: {thymus gland}]