Question:
Thymectomy (removal of the Thymus) in early childhood would primarily result in:
Thymectomy (removal of the Thymus) in early childhood would primarily result in:
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Remember the designations of lymphocytes:
- B-lymphocytes mature in the Bone marrow (associated with humoral antibody-mediated immunity).
- T-lymphocytes mature in the Thymus (associated with cell-mediated immunity).
- B-lymphocytes mature in the Bone marrow (associated with humoral antibody-mediated immunity).
- T-lymphocytes mature in the Thymus (associated with cell-mediated immunity).
Updated On: Jun 3, 2026
- Lack of antibodies only
- Loss of Lymph nodes
- Impaired Cell-mediated immunity (Lack of T-lymphocytes)
- Hyperactive immune response
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The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the physiological consequence of performing a thymectomy (surgical removal of the thymus gland) during early childhood.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ located in the thoracic cavity, behind the sternum and between the lungs. It plays a fundamental role in the development of the immune system during early life.
• Immature lymphoid progenitor cells migrate from the bone marrow to the thymus, where they undergo differentiation, maturation, and selection to become functional T-lymphocytes (T-cells).
• T-lymphocytes are the primary mediators of Cell-Mediated Immunity (CMI), which defends the body against intracellular pathogens (like viruses and some bacteria), fungi, parasites, and cancer cells, and is responsible for graft rejection.
• If the thymus gland is removed (thymectomy) in early childhood, the site of T-lymphocyte maturation is lost. This results in a failure of T-cell production.
• A lack of mature T-lymphocytes severely impairs the cell-mediated immune system of the body.
• Although humoral immunity (antibody production by B-lymphocytes) is also affected because Helper T-cells are needed to activate B-cells for most antigens, the primary and most direct impact is the impairment of cell-mediated immunity due to the absence of mature T-cells.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Thymectomy in early childhood would primarily result in impaired cell-mediated immunity due to a lack of functional T-lymphocytes.
The question asks for the physiological consequence of performing a thymectomy (surgical removal of the thymus gland) during early childhood.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
• The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ located in the thoracic cavity, behind the sternum and between the lungs. It plays a fundamental role in the development of the immune system during early life.
• Immature lymphoid progenitor cells migrate from the bone marrow to the thymus, where they undergo differentiation, maturation, and selection to become functional T-lymphocytes (T-cells).
• T-lymphocytes are the primary mediators of Cell-Mediated Immunity (CMI), which defends the body against intracellular pathogens (like viruses and some bacteria), fungi, parasites, and cancer cells, and is responsible for graft rejection.
• If the thymus gland is removed (thymectomy) in early childhood, the site of T-lymphocyte maturation is lost. This results in a failure of T-cell production.
• A lack of mature T-lymphocytes severely impairs the cell-mediated immune system of the body.
• Although humoral immunity (antibody production by B-lymphocytes) is also affected because Helper T-cells are needed to activate B-cells for most antigens, the primary and most direct impact is the impairment of cell-mediated immunity due to the absence of mature T-cells.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Thymectomy in early childhood would primarily result in impaired cell-mediated immunity due to a lack of functional T-lymphocytes.
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