Organ
Palatine tonsil
Crypt-bearing lymphoid tissue in the lateral oropharynx
High-yield
The facial artery's tonsillar branch is an important arterial source, and upper deep cervical nodes, especially the jugulodigastric group, receive its lymph.
Overview
Each palatine tonsil occupies a fossa between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches. Its exposed surface contains epithelial crypts that bring material from the pharyngeal lumen close to immune cells. A lateral fibrous capsule and intervening tissue separate it from the superior pharyngeal constrictor.
Reference facts
- Location
- Lateral oropharyngeal wall between the anterior palatoglossal and posterior palatopharyngeal arches.
- Parts
- Lymphoid follicles and crypts beneath mainly nonkeratinized squamous epithelium, with a capsule laterally.
- Blood supply
- Tonsillar and ascending palatine facial branches, with dorsal lingual, ascending pharyngeal and lesser palatine contributions.
- Innervation
- Sensory fibers mainly from glossopharyngeal and lesser palatine branches.
- Venous/Lymphatic drainage
- Venous blood enters peritonsillar and pharyngeal channels; lymph reaches upper deep cervical, particularly jugulodigastric, nodes.
- Function
- Samples material from the oropharyngeal surface and supports local adaptive immune responses.
Clinical correlation
Infection may extend into the peritonsillar space to form an abscess. Tonsillar disease can also cause referred ear pain through shared glossopharyngeal sensory pathways. The vascular tonsillar bed explains bleeding risk after tonsil removal, without identifying one vessel as the universal source.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the palatine tonsil located?
Lateral oropharyngeal wall between the anterior palatoglossal and posterior palatopharyngeal arches.
What does the palatine tonsil do?
Samples material from the oropharyngeal surface and supports local adaptive immune responses.
What are the parts of the palatine tonsil?
The parts of the palatine tonsil are the lymphoid follicles and crypts beneath mainly nonkeratinized squamous epithelium, with a capsule laterally.
What is the blood supply of the palatine tonsil?
Tonsillar and ascending palatine facial branches, with dorsal lingual, ascending pharyngeal and lesser palatine contributions.