
Locate cortex on this anatomical reference. Read the original plate labels to confirm the view and adjacent structures.
Zoom in, then drag to inspect. Keyboard: + / − to zoom, arrows to pan, 0 to reset. Tap the numbered markers to explore parts.
thymus: labelled anatomical figure. Original source colours and labels retained.
Image: OpenStax / University of Hawaiʻi adapted teaching figures; original contributors credited at source · Source / original · CC BY 4.0 — figure credits at sourceNumbered markers and focused views are Mediveerse learning overlays; the original reference is linked above.
Thymus
Understand what you see.
Supports T-cell development and selection.
Zoom into the original labels. Practise pointing out each structure, then explain it aloud. Diagrams are teaching references; specimen appearance and slide staining vary.
How to recognise it.
- Lobules with dark cortex and paler medulla
- Hassall corpuscles in medulla
- No ordinary lymphoid follicles
Point them out.
Tap a number to open its reference, zoom in and locate the structure. Numbers stay the same across views. This key follows landmarks visible in the reference images.
Think first. Then reveal.
Say your answer aloud before opening the suggested response.
01How do you identify thymus?+
Lobules with dark cortex and paler medulla. Hassall corpuscles in medulla. No ordinary lymphoid follicles.
02What forms Hassall corpuscles?+
Concentrically arranged epithelial reticular cells in the medulla.
03Does it normally have germinal-centre follicles?+
No. Such follicles are characteristic of other lymphoid tissues, not the normal thymic architecture.
04Which structures should you point out on this reference?+
Cortex; Medulla; Hassall corpuscles. Supports T-cell development and selection.
Read the references.
Credited anatomical plates, microscopy and university teaching references. Individual image credits appear below the viewer. Historical plates can use older terminology; use the lesson text for current names.