Britannica Sources used in this answer

Where is the thymus located in the human body?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Diagram of the human lymphatic system highlighting lymphatic vessels and major lymphoid organs, including lymph nodes, adenoids, tonsils, thymus gland, spleen, appendix, bone marrow, and ducts. — lymphatic system The human lymphatic system, showing the lymphatic vessels and lymphoid organs.

The thymus is a pyramid-shaped, bilobed organ located in the upper part of the chest, situated immediately behind the sternum (breastbone) at the level of the heart. It resides within the mediastinum, which is the anatomic region located between the lungs that contains the principal organs of the chest.123