5.1 Anatomy of the Lymphatic System Part 3 Flashcards
What does the thymus secrete?
thymosin
thmopoietin hormones
What is the purpose of the hormones that the thymus secretes?
enable T lymphocytes to mature and function in the immune system
What do mature T cells do?
attach body cells that are cancerous or infected with pathogens
When is the thymus the most prominent?
in newborns
When does growth of the thymus stop?
adolescence
What does the thymus look like in old age?
mass of fibrous fatty tissue
What are the tonsils?
group of small lymphoid organs in the lateral, posterior portions of the throat
What are the functions of the tonsils?
gather and destroy bacteria inhaled in air or food
What are crypts?
invaginated channels in the lymphoid tissue of the tonsils
What is the function of the crypts?
trap bacteria and foreign matter
