Abstract
Thymus is a primary lymphoid organ playing an important role in the development of immune system by generation of T- cells. It is a bilobed and encapsulated organ consisting of two pyramidal lobes. Understanding age related changes in the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of the thymus is important in the evaluation of patients with diseases of thymus which are presented as a variety of immune system disorder and hence this study. The present work is the result of pilot study of 15 human foetal thymus obtained from the museum of department of Anatomy, GIMSR, Visakhapatnam. Age of the fetuses ranged from 19-40 weeks Visakhapatnam. The lobulation and cortico-medullary distinction was observed at 19 weeks gestation. Branching blood vessels at cotico-medullary junction and thicker capsule with wider inter lobular septae and Hassall's corpuscles were observed in thymic glands of 21 st weeks old fetuses. Hassall's corpuscles which are peculiar nest like bodies with a central mass consisting of more granular cells made their appearance in 26 th week of gestation. Cortex with dense populated lymphocytes is observed. Medulla possessed Hassall's corpuscles of increasing maturity with few lymphocytes in 26 th week of gestation. Similar findings were observed in 30 th weeks of gestation. The gland during 34 th week of gestation showed internal architecture of lobulation,
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