Thymocytes thymus locations

Thymocytes are located in different places in the thymus depending on their stage of differentiation (Prockop and Petrie, 2000 Lind et al.,... 

T cells derive their name from the location of their production — the thymus, a small organ situated just above the heart. Examination of the developmental pathways leading to the production of mature cytotoxic and helper T cells reveals the selection mechanisms that are crucial for distinguishing self from nonself These selection criteria are quite stringent approximately 98% of the thymocytes, the precursors of T cells, die before the completion of the maturation process. 

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