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

Options

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

Answer

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

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Glands in Question**: The options provided are:
- A) Thymus
- B) Pituitary
- C) Thyroid
- D) Adrenal

2. **Understand the Function of Each Gland**:
- **Thymus**: Located between the lungs, it plays a crucial role in the immune system by producing T-lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). The thymus is known to grow significantly during childhood and reaches its maximum size at puberty.
- **Pituitary Gland**: Known as the "master gland", it regulates other endocrine glands and releases hormones such as growth hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. It does not show a significant decrease in size after puberty.
- **Thyroid Gland**: Located in the neck, it regulates metabolism and does not exhibit a significant change in size during puberty.
- **Adrenal Gland**: Situated on top of the kidneys, it produces hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Similar to the pituitary, it does not diminish in size after puberty.

3. **Analyze Growth Patterns**:
- The thymus gland grows to its maximum size during puberty and then gradually diminishes in size as a person ages, particularly after puberty.

4. **Conclusion**: Based on the analysis, the gland that grows to the maximum size at puberty and then diminishes gradually is the **Thymus** gland.

### Final Answer:
The correct answer is **A) Thymus**.

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