Which of the following glands grows to the maximum size at puberty and then diminishes gradually ?

Options

A. Thymus
B. Pituitary
C. Thyroid
D. Adrenal

Answer

To solve the question "Which of the following glands grows to the maximum size at puberty and then diminishes gradually?", we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the glands mentioned in the options.
- The question refers to specific glands. We need to look at each gland mentioned in the options provided.

### Step 2: Analyze the thymus gland.
- The thymus gland is known to be associated with the immune system. It secretes thymosine, which is important for the differentiation of T-lymphocytes.
- The thymus reaches its maximum size during puberty and then gradually diminishes in size, becoming much smaller by the age of 70.

### Step 3: Analyze the pituitary gland.
- The pituitary gland is often referred to as the "master gland" because it regulates the activity of other endocrine glands.
- It does not show a significant decrease in size after puberty; rather, it maintains its size and function throughout life.

### Step 4: Analyze the thyroid gland.
- The thyroid gland is located in the neck and is responsible for metabolism through the secretion of thyroxine.
- It does not grow to a maximum size at puberty and does not diminish significantly afterward.

### Step 5: Analyze the adrenal glands.
- The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys and are involved in producing hormones like glucocorticoids and adrenaline.
- Similar to the pituitary and thyroid glands, the adrenal glands do not show a significant decrease in size after puberty.

### Conclusion:
- After analyzing all the options, the thymus gland is the only gland that grows to its maximum size at puberty and then diminishes gradually. Therefore, the correct answer is the **thymus gland**.

### Final Answer:
The gland that grows to the maximum size at puberty and then diminishes gradually is the **thymus gland**.

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