The palatine tonsils are the familiar 'tonsils', two almond-shaped masses of lymphoid tissue on either side of the back of the mouth. Each sits in the tonsillar fossa between two arches of the soft palate (palatoglossal in front, palatopharyngeal behind), and its surface is pitted with deep crypts that sample swallowed and inhaled material.
| Location | Tonsillar fossa in the lateral wall of the oropharynx, between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches, lying on the superior constrictor muscle |
|---|---|
| Secretes |
|
| Nerve Supply | Glossopharyngeal nerve (tonsillar branch); Lesser palatine nerves |
| Blood Supply | Tonsillar branch of the facial artery (main supply); Ascending palatine artery; Dorsal lingual arteries; Ascending pharyngeal artery; Lesser palatine artery |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
Samples antigens entering the mouth and throat and generates immune responses, including IgA antibodies, particularly in childhood.
Tonsillitis is common in children and young adults. A peritonsillar abscess (quinsy) pushes the tonsil and uvula toward the midline and causes trismus and a muffled voice. The most worrying complication of tonsillectomy is bleeding, typically from the paratonsillar (external palatine) vein or the tonsillar branch of the facial artery. Ear pain with tonsillitis is referred via the glossopharyngeal nerve.
Viral or bacterial (often group A streptococcal) infection of the tonsils causing sore throat, fever and painful swallowing.
Pus collecting between the tonsil capsule and the pharyngeal wall, causing severe one-sided throat pain, trismus and deviated uvula.
Bleeding after tonsil removal, either within 24 hours or around 5-10 days later when the scab separates.
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