Anatomy and physiology of the palatine tonsils, adenoids, and lingual tonsils
Objective: This review aims to discuss the basic anatomy and physiology of the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils, with reference to how this foundational understanding may affect patient management and surgical procedures in these regions of the upper airway. Methods: A literature search was performed...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-07-01
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| Series: | World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095881121000408 |
| _version_ | 1811227947199102976 |
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| author | Alexandra Arambula Jason R. Brown Laura Neff |
| author_facet | Alexandra Arambula Jason R. Brown Laura Neff |
| author_sort | Alexandra Arambula |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: This review aims to discuss the basic anatomy and physiology of the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils, with reference to how this foundational understanding may affect patient management and surgical procedures in these regions of the upper airway. Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar using the MeSH terms tonsils, adenoids, anatomy, physiology, and adenotonsillectomy. Primary sources were excluded if they were abstracts only, non-English language, or non-human studies. Thirty-five sources were included in this review. Results and conclusions: The pharyngeal and palatine tonsils are compact yet physiologically complex mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues that make up a portion of Waldeyer's ring. As part of the mucosal immune system, these structures function in exogenous antigen sampling and stimulation of immune responses. Aberrant immune activation and/or regulation can lead to a myriad of pathologies, with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, chronic tonsillitis/adenoiditis, and recurrent otitis media among the most commonly encountered conditions by otolaryngologists. While the pathophysiology of these conditions is still incompletely understood, current evidence and future investigations may reveal patterns amenable to targeted medical management. When medical management fails, tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy may be indicated for patient care. Though routine procedures, the execution of tonsil and/or adenoid removal requires a thorough understanding of the anatomy of these lymphoepithelial organs so as to minimize the risk for rare serious complications that can occur. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:50:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5122fbd43204f3aaf92f7bcc7ac4d99 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2095-8811 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:50:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5122fbd43204f3aaf92f7bcc7ac4d992022-12-22T03:37:50ZengWileyWorld Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery2095-88112021-07-0173155160Anatomy and physiology of the palatine tonsils, adenoids, and lingual tonsilsAlexandra Arambula0Jason R. Brown1Laura Neff2Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, USADivision of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics, Kansas City, MO, USA; Department of Surgery – University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USADivision of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics, Kansas City, MO, USA; Department of Surgery – University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA; Corresponding author. Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.Objective: This review aims to discuss the basic anatomy and physiology of the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils, with reference to how this foundational understanding may affect patient management and surgical procedures in these regions of the upper airway. Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar using the MeSH terms tonsils, adenoids, anatomy, physiology, and adenotonsillectomy. Primary sources were excluded if they were abstracts only, non-English language, or non-human studies. Thirty-five sources were included in this review. Results and conclusions: The pharyngeal and palatine tonsils are compact yet physiologically complex mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues that make up a portion of Waldeyer's ring. As part of the mucosal immune system, these structures function in exogenous antigen sampling and stimulation of immune responses. Aberrant immune activation and/or regulation can lead to a myriad of pathologies, with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, chronic tonsillitis/adenoiditis, and recurrent otitis media among the most commonly encountered conditions by otolaryngologists. While the pathophysiology of these conditions is still incompletely understood, current evidence and future investigations may reveal patterns amenable to targeted medical management. When medical management fails, tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy may be indicated for patient care. Though routine procedures, the execution of tonsil and/or adenoid removal requires a thorough understanding of the anatomy of these lymphoepithelial organs so as to minimize the risk for rare serious complications that can occur.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095881121000408Anatomy of tonsilsAdenoidsWaldeyer's ring |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra Arambula Jason R. Brown Laura Neff Anatomy and physiology of the palatine tonsils, adenoids, and lingual tonsils World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Anatomy of tonsils Adenoids Waldeyer's ring |
| title | Anatomy and physiology of the palatine tonsils, adenoids, and lingual tonsils |
| title_full | Anatomy and physiology of the palatine tonsils, adenoids, and lingual tonsils |
| title_fullStr | Anatomy and physiology of the palatine tonsils, adenoids, and lingual tonsils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anatomy and physiology of the palatine tonsils, adenoids, and lingual tonsils |
| title_short | Anatomy and physiology of the palatine tonsils, adenoids, and lingual tonsils |
| title_sort | anatomy and physiology of the palatine tonsils adenoids and lingual tonsils |
| topic | Anatomy of tonsils Adenoids Waldeyer's ring |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095881121000408 |
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