The Shrinking Organ: Understanding the Growth of a Gland

The Unique Growth Process of a Specific Organ

While most organs will grow until maturity (when you stop getting taller), the thymus will get bigger throughout childhood, but it will slowly shrink from once an individual reaches puberty and will continue to shrink throughout adulthood. As this gland shrinks, its tissues are replaced by tissues that are stored in fat cells (called adipose tissue). The reason it shrinks is because the thyroid has a reduced role during adulthood.

What is the organ that undergoes this unique growth process? The correct answer is "thymus." The thymus is a lymphoid organ which main function is to produce T cells used for protection in the immune system. While most organs grow until maturity, the thymus stops growing at puberty and starts to shrink throughout adulthood. The reason of the shrinking is that the thymus as a reduced role in adulthood because most of the T cells are produced during childhood. As the thymus shrinks, its tissue is replaced by adipose tissue.
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