Anatomy, Location, and Functions of the Thymus

3. Specific Anatomy

Two lobes make up the thymus and meet in the middle. A capsule surrounds the lobes, which are both made up of two sub-components: cortex and medulla. The outer cortex is rich with cells, while the inner medulla is less dense. Thymocytes and epithelial cells account for most of the cells of the cortex. A network of so-called epithelial reticular cells supports the thymocytes. The medulla has a similar network, though it is much coarser. As the epithelial cells gather in the medulla, they form Hassall’s corpuscles.