The thymus is a soft organ with two lobes that is located
anterior to the ascending aorta and posterior to the sternum.
It is relatively large in infants and children but after
puberty it begins to decrease in size so that in older adults
it is quite small.
The primary function of the thymus is the processing and
maturation of special lymphocytes called T-lymphocytes or
T-cells. While in the thymus, the lymphocytes do not respond
to pathogens and foreign agents. After the lymphocytes have
matured, they enter the
