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thymus

/ˈθaɪməs/

Meanings
noun
A ductless gland, consisting mainly of lymphatic tissue, located behind the top of the breastbone. It is most active during puberty, after which it shrinks in size. It plays an important role in the development of the immune system and produces lymphocytes.

Examples :

""During childhood, the thymus helps the body learn to fight off infections, but it becomes smaller as we get older." "
body organ anatomy physiology medicine biology

Related Words

Illustration located

located verb

/ləʊˈkeɪtɪd/ /loʊˈkeɪtɪd/

To place; to set in a particular spot or position.

"The school located the lost backpack in the main office. "

Illustration infections

infections noun

/ɪnˈfɛkʃənz/

The act or process of infecting.

""Washing your hands often helps prevent the spread of infections." "

Illustration breastbone

breastbone noun

/ˈbɹɛstˌboʊn/ /ˈbɹɛstboʊn/

The central narrow bone in the front of the chest, connecting the collarbone and the top ribs.

"The doctor pressed gently on my breastbone to check for tenderness after my fall. "

Illustration important

important adjective

/ɪmˈpɔːtənt/ /ɪmˈpɔɹtənt/

Having relevant and crucial value.

"It is very important to give your daughter independence in her life so she learns from experience."

Illustration development

development noun

/dɪˈvɛləpmənt/

The process of developing; growth, directed change.

"The development of this story has been slow."

Illustration ductless

ductless adjective

/ˈdʌktləs/ /ˈdʌtləs/

Having no duct.

"The new refrigerator is ductless, so it doesn't need to be connected to a wall vent. "

Illustration puberty

puberty noun

/ˈpjuːbərti/ /ˈpjuːbəti/

A developmental phase brought about by the action of hormones as part of the maturing process. For humans, there are three in total.

"During puberty, teenagers experience many physical and emotional changes. "

Illustration lymphocytes

lymphocytes noun

/ˈlɪmfəˌsaɪts/ /ˈlɪmfoʊˌsaɪts/

A type of white blood cell with a spherical nucleus occurring in the lymphatic system, including B cells, T cells and natural killer cells.

"The doctor ordered a blood test to check my levels of lymphocytes because she suspected I might have an infection. "

Illustration consisting

consisting verb

/kənˈsɪstɪŋ/

To be.

"The project consists of three main parts. "

Illustration childhood

childhood noun

/ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/

The state of being a child.

"Her childhood memories of playing hide-and-seek with her siblings were happy and vivid. "

Illustration produces

produces verb

/pɹəˈdjuːsɪz/ /pɹəˈdusɪz/

To yield, make or manufacture; to generate.

"Our apple tree produces a lot of fruit every summer. "

Illustration lymphatic

lymphatic noun

/lɪmˈfætɪk/ /lɪmˈfætɪk/

A vessel that transports lymph.

"The doctor examined the swollen lymphatic in my neck to check for infection. "