Which gland does atrophy in adults?

1 Answer
Mandira P.
May 30, 2017

The answer is THYMUS.

Explanation:

Thymus is part of immune system where T lymphocytes mature. At birth it is relatively large in size, about 5cm by 4cm, located between heart and sternum in the chest region.

It reaches maximum size in puberty but gradually starts to shrink in early adulthood. In adults, the gland is almost indistinguishable from surrounding fatty tissue.

The atrophy of the organ in adulthood is directly related to increased amount of circulating sex hormone in blood. In sexually matured rats, castration leads to some reversal of thymic tissue.

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