title: The weight of the human thymus gland at necropsy.
abstract: The wet, lipid and lean dry weights of 574 thymus glands from Coroner's necropsies were examined for age-related changes. Despite enormous variation in wet and lipid weights at all ages there was a gradual decrease in wet weight with age and a significant increase in lipid weight until 40--50 years of age, with little change thereafter. There was a small decrease in lean dry weight with age, but it is not known if this reflects a change in cellularity. Multiple regression analysis showed that lower wet and lipid thymic weights were associated with long-term stressful conditions, and higher weights with deaths from asphyxia (largely in younger persons) and five groups of cardiovascular conditions. The percentage of lipid in these groups was not increased.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001344:Autopsy; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000032:analysis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D014867:Water