IJAR.2019.232

Type of Article:  Original Research

Volume 7; Issue 3.2 (August 2019)

Page No.: 6811-6817

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2019.232

A STUDY ON HISTOGENESIS OF THYMUS IN HUMAN FOETUSES

 J. Gayathri *1, M. Bharathadevi 2, T. Sivakami 3.

*1 Assistant Professor ,Department of Anatomy, Thanjavur Medical  College, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.

 2  Assistant Professor ,Department of Anatomy, Govt KAPV Medical College, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India.

3 Professor ,Department of Anatomy, Thanjavur Medical  College, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.

Address for Correpondence: Dr.J.Gayathri, M.D (Anatomy), Assistant Professor, Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur – 613004, Tamil Nadu, India. E-Mail: gayathrimurugu78@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Background: The Thymus is a lymphatic organ that exhibits certain unique structural features. The supporting reticular stroma arises from endodermal epithelium and produces a cellular reticulum. Lymphocytes are derived from haematopoietic stem cells.

Materials and methods: The present study was carried out with 20 human foetuses of gestational age varying from 10 to 31weeks in the Department of Anatomy,Thanjavur medical college, Thanjavur. Histogenesis of various components of thymus was studied after staining with Hematoxylin and Eosin.

Results: Lymphocytes appear by 10th week.Lobulation started appearing by 12th week and completed by 15th week.Corticomedullary differentiation started by 15th week, and become more distinct by18th week. Blood vessels were seen by 10th week and macrophages by 12th week. Hassall’s corpuscles appeared  by 15th week. The number and size of HC increased between 18 and 24 weeks.

Conclusion: Precise knowledge of the histogenesis and histodifferentiation of the various components of the normal thymus is essential in analyzing the different pathologies like thymic neoplasia, myasthenia gravis and certain other autoimmune disorder.

Key words: Histogenesis, thymus, lobulation, lymphocytes, Hassall’s corpuscle, gestational age.

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Cite this article: J. Gayathri, M. Bharathadevi, T. Sivakami. A STUDY ON HISTOGENESIS OF THYMUS IN HUMAN FOETUSES. Int J Anat Res 2019;7(3.2):6811-6817. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2019.232