Tonsil - wikipedia Tonsil For the structure in the cerebellum, see cerebellar tonsil. Tonsil sagittal view of tonsils and throat anatomy. Details Identifiers Latin Tonsilla, Tonsillae ( pl. ) MeSH D014066 TA A05. 2.01. 011 FMA 9610 Anatomical terminology ( edit on Wikidata ) Tonsils are collections of lymphoid tissue facing into the aerodigestive tract. The set of lymphatic tissue known as Waldeyer 's tonsillar ring includes the adenoid tonsil, two tubal tonsils, two palatine tonsils, and the lingual tonsil. When used unqualified, the term most commonly refers specifically to the palatine tonsils, which are masses of lymphatic material situated at either side of the back of the human throat. The palatine tonsils and the nasopharyngeal tonsil are lymphoepithelial tissues located near the oropharynx and nasopharynx ( parts of the throat ). Contents 1 Structure 1.1 Development 2 Function 3 Clinical significance 4 Additional images 5 References 6 External links Structure Tonsils in humans include, from anterior ( front ), superior ( top ), posterior ( back ), and inferior ( bottom ) : Type Epithelium capsule Crypts Location Adenoids ( also termed `` pharyngeal tonsils '' ) Ciliated pseudostratified columnar ( respiratory epithelium ) Incompletely encapsulated No crypts, but small folds Roof of pharynx Tubal tonsils Ciliated pseudostratified columnar ( respiratory epithelium ) Roof of pharynx Palatine tonsils Non-keratinized stratified squamous Incompletely encapsulated Long, branched Sides of oropharynx between palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches Lingual tonsils Non-keratinized stratified squamous Incompletely encapsulated Long, branched Behind terminal sulcus ( tongue ) Normally, each tonsil measures up to 2.5 cm in length, 2.0 cm in width and 1.2 cm in thickness. Development 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. Function See also : Tonsillectomy § Impact on immune system These immunocompetent tissues are the immune system 's first line of defense against ingested or inhaled foreign pathogens, and as such frequently engorge with blood to assist in immune responses to common illnesses such as the common cold. Tonsils have on their surface specialized antigen capture cells called M cells that allow for the uptake of antigens produced by pathogens. These M cells then alert the underlying B cells and T cells in the tonsil that a pathogen is present and an immune response is stimulated. B cells are activated and proliferate in areas called germinal centres in the tonsil. These germinal centres are places where B memory cells are created and secretory antibody ( IgA ) is produced. Recent studies have provided evidence that the tonsils produce T lymphocytes, also known as T - cells, in a manner similar to, but different from, the way the thymus does. Clinical significance A pair of tonsils after surgical removal. Tonsils can become enlarged ( adenotonsillar hyperplasia ) or inflamed ( tonsillitis ) and may require surgical removal ( tonsillectomy ). This may be indicated if they obstruct the airway or interfere with swallowing, or in patients with frequent recurrent tonsillitis. However, different mechanisms of pathogenesis for these two subtypes of tonsillar hypertrophy have been described, and may have different responses to identical therapeutic efforts. 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. Tonsillitis is a disorder in which the tonsils are inflamed ( sore and swollen ). The most common way to treat it is with anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, or if bacterial in origin, antibiotics, e.g. amoxicillin and azithromycin. Often severe and / or recurrent tonsillitis is treated by tonsillectomy. A tonsillolith is material that accumulates on the tonsil. They can range up to the size of a peppercorn and are white / cream in color. The main substance is mostly calcium, but they have a strong unpleasant odor because of hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan and other chemicals. Tonsil enlargement can affect speech, making it hypernasal and giving it the sound of velopharyngeal incompetence ( when space in the mouth is not fully separated from the nose 's air space ). Tonsil size may have a more significant impact on upper airway obstruction for obese children than for those of average weight. As mucosal lymphatic tissue of the aerodigestive tract, the tonsils are viewed in some classifications as belonging to both the gut - associated lymphoid tissue ( GALT ) and the mucosa - associated lymphoid tissue ( MALT ). Other viewpoints treat them ( and the spleen and thymus ) as large lymphatic organs contradistinguished from the smaller tissue loci of GALT and MALT. Additional images Illustration of frontal view of tonsils References Jump up ^ `` the definition of tonsil ''. Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 29. ^ Jump up to : `` The Lymphatic System ''. act.downstate.edu. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 29. Jump up ^ Chapter : Ear, Nose and Throat Histopathology in L. Michaels ( 1987 ). Normal Anatomy, Histology ; Inflammatory Diseases. Springer London. ISBN 9781447133322. Jump up ^ Kato A et al, B - lymphocyte lineage cells and the respiratory system, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Volume 131, pages 933 - 957, 2013 Jump up ^ `` Tonsils Make T - Cells, Too, Ohio State Study Shows ''. Ohio State University. Ohio State University, Comprehensive Cancer Center. March 4, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2014. Jump up ^ Ezzeddini, R ; Darabi, M ; Ghasemi, B ; et al. ( 2012 ). `` Circulating phospholipase - A2 activity in obstructive sleep apnea ''. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 76 ( 4 ) : 471 -- 4. doi : 10.1016 / j. ijporl. 2011.12. 026. PMID 22297210. CS1 maint : Explicit use of et al. ( link ) Jump up ^ Udayan K Shah, MD, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University ; Director, Fellow and Resident Education in Pediatric Otolaryngology, Attending Surgeon, Division of Otolaryngology, Nemours - AI duPont Hospital for Children Jump up ^ `` Tonsils Tonsilitis Lymph Nodes MedlinePlus ''. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 29. Jump up ^ Mora, R ; Jankowska, B ; Mora, F ; Crippa, B ; Dellepiane, M ; Salami, A ( 2009 ). `` Effects of tonsillectomy on speech and voice ''. J Voice. 23 ( 5 ) : 614 -- 8. doi : 10.1016 / j. jvoice. 2008.01. 008. PMID 18468843. Jump up ^ Wang, JH ; Chung, YS ; Cho, YW ; Kim, DY ; Yi, JS ; Bae, JS ; Shim, MJ ( April 2010 ). `` Palatine tonsil size in obese, overweight, and normal - weight children with sleep - disordered breathing ''. Otolaryngology -- head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. 142 ( 4 ) : 516 -- 9. doi : 10.1016 / j. otohns. 2010.01. 013. PMID 20304270. External links Media related to Tonsils at Wikimedia Commons Organs of the lymphatic system Primary organs Bone marrow Hematopoietic stem cell Thymus Hassall 's corpuscles Secondary organs Spleen Structure Hilum Trabeculae Red pulp Cords of Billroth Marginal zone White pulp Periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths Germinal center Blood flow Trabecular arteries Trabecular veins Tonsils Palatine Lingual Pharyngeal Tubal Tonsillar crypts Waldeyer 's tonsillar ring Lymph nodes Lymphatic vessel T cells High endothelial venules B cells Germinal center Mantle zone Marginal zone MALT GALT Peyer 's patch Germinal center NDL : 00563119 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tonsil&oldid=840546690 '' Categories : Tonsil Human throat Immune system Lymphatic system Lymphatic tissue Lymphatics of the head and neck Tonsil disorders Hidden categories : Pages with unresolved properties CS1 maint : Explicit use of et al. 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Question: the lymphatic tissues at the back of the mouth are called
Answer: Tonsils