Tonsills
From WikiLectures
The meaning of the word 'tonsil' means a mass of lymphoid tissue. The tonsils surround the oral cavity, providing it with protection against pathogens that may enter the mouth.
Nasal/Pharyngeal Tonsil[edit | edit source]
- It is the midline of the roof of the nasopharynx
- It protrudes from behind the choanae
- It has shallow foldings between sagitally-orientated mucosal folds
- It is visible when the tongue is depressed
Lingual Tonsil[edit | edit source]
- It is on the posterior third of the tongue
- It is abundant with lymphoid nodules, which contain B-lymphocytes
- It is flat with numerous crypts
Lingual tonsil
Palatine Tonsil[edit | edit source]
- It is on each side of the oropharynx; between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches
- It has crypts and tonsillar pits
Palatine tonsils
Waldeyer's Circle[edit | edit source]
- Also known as 'Waldeyer's Ring'
- It is the lymphatic gate made of all three tonsils
Links[edit | edit source]
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
SNELL, Richard S. Clinical Anatomy by Regions. 8th Edition edition. 2004. ISBN 978-0-7817-6404-9.
