A 22-year-old female student was found to have an anterior mediastinal mass on a chest x-ray for a persistent cough. What finding is true regarding the thymus gland?
The thymus gland is removed in certain cases of myasthenia gravis. It is located in the anterior mediastinum and can be approached by a cervical or mediastinal approach. It arises from the third and fourth branchial arches. Pneumococcal infections are particularly likely to develop after splenectomy performed in children.
It is located in the posterior mediastinum.
It arises from the first branchial arch.
It controls calcium metabolism.
It is usually excised through an incision along the anterior branch of the sternomastoid.
Miscellaneous