Question
Biology Question on human health and disease
Damage to thymus in a child may lead to
Reduction in haemoglobin content of blood
Reduction in stem cell production
Loss of antibody mediated immunity
Loss of cell mediated immunity
Loss of cell mediated immunity
Solution
The thymus is the major gland of our immune system. The thymus is responsible for many immune system functions including the production of T-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell responsible for cell mediated immunity. Cell mediated immunity is a type of immunity in which specialized cells carry' out defensive activities. They protect the body against pathogens including the protists and fungi which have entered the host's cells. T-cells and B-cells are the type of lymphocytes that develop from bone marrow cells. Those lymphocytes that migrate to the thymus and differentiate are called T-cells and those cells that continue to be in the bone marrow for differentiation are known as B-cells. T-cells are responsible for cell mediated immunity, however, B- cells produce antibodies and take part in antibody mediated immunity.