Today I will talk to you about the Thymus, a gland-shaped organ of the immune system formed by T lymphocytes, which are the cells responsible for cellular immunity, responding with the activation of some cells to fight infections.
The Thymus: What is it and what is it used for?
The thymus is a gland of the immune system. It produces white blood cells, called lymphocytes; these protect the body against infections. It was known in Ancient Greece for the origin of the word Thýmos, which means “heart or soul.” I say it is the heart of the soul. The place where the only eternal thing in a human being is found.
Its precise location is in the chest, where you personally feel your desires and elevated emotions. Here you discover your ikigai, the desires of your spirit; not the desires of the pituitary gland (the lying mind).
Galen was the first to notice that this organ changed in size throughout life. Initially, it was considered a “lymphocyte cemetery” with no functional value.
However, its importance in the immune system was discovered in 1961 by Jacques Millar, when he surgically removed the thymus of a 3-day-old mouse and observed the subsequent deterioration of its lymphocytes, which were later called T cells, a name synonymous with “thymus-derived”.
If the thymus does not function properly, our immune system does not generate enough T cells to protect us from infections, which is called immunodeficiency; or if the thymus generates T cells that attack our own body's cells, this is called autoimmunity.
What is the thymus gland like?
The thymus has two lobes that are located in the upper chest cavity, partially within the neck region.
It is located above the cardiac pericardium, in front of the aorta, between the lungs, below the thyroid gland and behind the sternum.
The thymus has a thin covering called a capsule. It is made up of three types of cells:
- Epithelial cells: These are compact cells that give the tissue its shape and structure.
- Lymphocytes: These are immune cells that protect against infections and stimulate the immune response.
- Kulchitsky cells. These are cells that release hormones.
The lobes of the thymus are made up of many smaller divisions called lobules. A lobe consists of an inner area called the medulla and an outer region called the cortex.
The cortex contains immature T cells, so these cells do not yet have the immune capacity to distinguish the body's own cells from foreign cells.
The bone marrow contains mature T cells. These cells have the ability to identify self cells from foreign cells by differentiating into specialized T cells. T cells originate from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow and migrate in an immature state to the thymus through the bloodstream.
Function of the Thymus
This is the organic function of the gland. In my book I talk about its spiritual and healthy role in your life.
The main function of the thymus is to mature T lymphocytes. Once mature, they leave the thymus and are transported through the blood to the lymph nodes and spleen. It should be noted that T lymphocytes are the cells of the immune system responsible for cellular immunity, which consists of an immune response, which causes the activation of certain immune cells to fight infection. Their cell membrane contains a series of proteins capable of recognizing different types of allergens (substances that produce an immune response). T lymphocytes are differentiated into 3 types in the thymus:
Cytotoxic T cellsThey bind directly to the pathogen's antigens and eliminate it.
Helper T cells. They precipitate the production of antibodies by B lymphocytes and also produce substances that activate other T cells.
Regulatory T cellsThey are also called suppressor T cells because they suppress the response of B cells and other T cells to antigens.
The thymus produces a number of hormone-functioning proteins that help T cells mature and differentiate. The thymus produces and releases several hormones, including thymopoietin, which stimulates T cell production and tells the pituitary gland to release hormones. It also produces thymosin and thymulin, which help produce specialized types of T cells, i.e., they induce T cell differentiation, enhancing their immune function. In fact, thymosin increases the immune response.
On the other hand, the thymus gland as a hormonal gland also stimulates other glands. An example is the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, which stimulates the release of growth hormones, luteinizing hormone, prolactin and gonadotropin, and the adrenal gland, stimulating the production of ACTH. This explanation is very technical, but I tried to be as clear and simple as possible.
To show the scientific rigor of working with the Thymus and to learn how the Thymus is linked to what drives us, what makes us feel and, therefore, what makes us truly human, You are welcome to live the experience of activating your thymus and improving your lifeI invite you to read my book The Scam: Factory of Miracles, available in Spanish and English at Amazon.com and our online store.
Thank you for reading me.
– Dr. Roch.