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For the structure in the cerebellum, see cerebellar tonsil.

The tonsils are areas of lymphoid tissue on either side of the throat. An infection of the tonsils is called tonsillitis. Most commonly, the term "tonsils" refers to the palatine tonsils that can be seen in the back of the throat.

Like other organs of the lymphatic system, the tonsils act as part of the immune system to help protect against infection. In particular, they are believed to be involved in helping fight off pharyngeal and upper respiratory tract infections.

Types

Tonsils in humans include, from superior to inferior:

Name	Epithelium	Capsule	Crypts	Location
adenoids (also termed "pharyngeal tonsils")	ciliated pseudostratified columnar (respiratory epithelium)	Incompletely encapsulated	No	roof of pharynx
palatine tonsils	non-keratinized stratified squamous	Incompletely encapsulated	Yes	sides of pharynx between glossopalatine and pharyngopalatine arches
lingual tonsils	non-keratinized stratified squamous	Incompletely encapsulated	Yes	behind terminal sulcus (tongue)

Together this set of lymphatic tissue is known as Waldeyer's tonsillar ring.

Growth

Tonsils tend to reach their largest size near puberty, and they gradually undergo atrophy thereafter. However, they are largest relative to the diameter of the throat in young children, and tonsillectomy (surgical removal of tonsils) may be indicated if they are obstructing the airway or interfering with swallowing. Also, when tonsils become overly enlarged or inflamed, they may need to be surgically removed. In older patients, asymmetric tonsils (also known as asymmetric tonsil hypertrophy) may be an indicator of virally infected tonsils, or tumors such as lymphoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Some doctors who are not ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists are conservative on recommending the removal of tonsils^{citation needed}, because the tissue cannot be put back, and removal decreases the power of the immune system. ENT specialists generally recommend removal if there are frequent recurrent tonsillitis, adenotonsillar hyperplasia causing symptomatic partial upper airway obstruction or asymmetry^{citation needed}.

See also

• Tubal tonsil
• Tonsilloliths
• Tonsillitis
• Tonsillectomy

v • d • e Lymphatics of head and neck Head Posterior Occipital - Mastoid/retroauricular Parotid: Superficial - Deep (Preauricular, Infra-auricular, Intraglandular) Anterior Facial (Buccinator, Nasolabial) - Mandibular Submandibular - Submental Neck/Cervical Superficial cervical: Superficial anterior cervical - Superficial lateral cervical Deep cervical: Deep anterior cervical (Pretracheal, Paratracheal, Prelaryngeal, Thyroid) - Deep lateral cervical (Superior deep cervical, Inferior deep cervical, Retropharyngeal, Jugulodigastric, Jugulo-omohyoid) Anterior cervical - Lateral cervical Supraclavicular (Virchow's) Jugular trunk Tonsils/Waldeyer's tonsillar ring Palatine - Lingual - Pharyngeal - Tubal

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