What it means
The thymus sits behind the breastbone and is largest in childhood, when it trains T cells for the immune system. A thymoma is a tumor of the thymus and a thymectomy removes it, which can help some people with myasthenia gravis. From a different Greek word, -thymia means mood, as in dysthymia, a long-lasting low mood.
At a glance
| Also written | thymo- |
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Related terms
immune system
The body's defense system of cells, tissues and organs that fights germs and other foreign substances.