Anatomy
The lingual,pharyngeal and palatine tomsils ciompose the bulk of the so-called Waldayer,s ring of lynphatic tissue that lines the walls of nasopharynx and oropharynx.this ring is completed by lynphoid tissue located on latteral pharyngeal wall described as the latteral pharyngeal bands
Palatine Tonsil
The palatine tomsils can be either flattened or pedunculated ovoid bodies of lynphoid tissue.They are located in the posterolatteralr oropharynx in fossae that are described as the sinutonsilaris.although each le tonsil may be varible in size,the lenghth of the adult onsil measures 20 to 25 mm, and its tickness is about 12 mm and its width ranges from 15 to 20 mm.The average weight of the adulttonsil has bbeen foundto be 1.5 gm.
The latteral ral or attached surface of the palatine tonsil is covered by a firm fibrous capsule that is loosely continious with the pharyngobasilar fascia that overlies the superior constrictor muscle of the pharynx .this capsule is in intimate contact with the deep surface of the tonsil and extends into the paranchyma of the tonsil to contribute to connective tissue septae.These septae conduct the tonsilar nrves and vessels.The mucosa of free surface of the tonsil is composed of stratified squamous epithelium that isvariably pitted with the openings of the tonsilar crypts or fossulae The palatine tonsil is bounded posteromedially by the palatopharyngeus muscle,or posterior pillar,which originates from the caudal pharynx and inserts on the aponeurosis of the soft palate.The palatoglossus muscle ,or anterior pilar ,lies anteromedially and originates from the inferior surface of of the tongue to also insert om the palatal aponeurosis ,forming an arch with the palatopharygessus muscle over the tonsil.
Each palatine tonsil is composed of connnective tissue as well as lynphoid tissue and contains lynphoid cells in various stages of development.The tonsilar crypt is unique and and represents tubular invagination s of surface epithelium within the substance of each tonsil.