Table 3:

Compartments and cellular components of the thymus

Compartment	Components
Subcapsular zone	CD4−/CD8− T cells
	Epithelial cells
Cortex	CD4+/CD8+ T cells
	Epithelial cells
	Thymic nurse cells
	Dendritic cells
	Apoptotic cells
	Macrophages
	Plasma cells
	B cells
Medulla	CD4+/CD8+ T cells
	CD4+/CD8+ T cells
	Epithelial cells
	Dendritic cells
	Apoptotic cells
	Macrophages
	Hassall’s corpuscles
	B lymphocytes
	Myoid cells
	Neuroendocrine cells
Corticomedullary Junction	Mature and immature T cells
	B lymphocytes
	Plasma cells
Epithelial Free Area (some rat strains only)	CD4+/CD8+ T cells