Tonsil Anattomy

Question 1

What are the tonsils found in the mouth?

Answer 1

• Waldeyer’s Ring: Pharyngeal tonsil, Tubal tonsils x2, Palatine tonsils x2, Lingual tonsil

Question 2

What is the tissue seen in the tonsils?

Answer 2

• T cells, B cells and Macrophages (MALT tissue)
• These are the first line of defence against pathogens entering the nasopharynx and oropharynx

Question 3

What is a lingual tonsil?

Answer 3

• These are many lymphoid nodules which are found within the posterior third of the tongue

Question 4

What tissue is found on the lingual tonsil?

Answer 4

• Stratified non-keratinised squamous epithelium

Question 5

What is the blood supply and innervation of the Lingual Tonsil?

Answer 5

• Lingual Artery
• Tonsillar branch of the facial artery
• Ascending Pharyngeal artery

Question 6

What nerve supplies the Lingual Tonsil?

Answer 6

• Glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 7

What is the lymphatic drainage of the Lingual Tonsil?

Answer 7

• Jugulodigastric and deep cervical lymph nodes

Question 8

What is the Pharyngeal tonsil?

Answer 8

• A collection of lymphoid tissue within the mucosa of the roof of the nasopharynx
• The pharyngeal tonsil is also known as the adenoids

Question 9

Where is the Pharyngeal tonsil located?

Answer 9

• Midline of the nasopharynx and forms the superior aspect of Waldeyer’s ring

Question 10

What type of epithelium covers the pharyngeal tonsil?

Answer 10

• ciliated pseudostratified epithelium

Question 11

What is the blood supply to the pharyngeal tonsil?

Answer 11

• Ascending palatine artery
• Ascending pharyngeal artery
• Pharyngeal branch of the maxillary artery
• Artery of the pterygoid canal
• Basisphenoid artery
• Tonsillar branch of the facial artery

Question 12

What is the venous drainage of the Pharyngeal tonsil?

Answer 12

• Pharyngeal Plexus

Question 13

What is the nerve supply to the Pharyngeal tonsil?

Answer 13

• Vagus Nerve
• Glossopharyngeal Nerve

Question 14

What is the lymphatic drainage of the pharyngeal tonsils?

Answer 14

• Deep Cervical Nodes within the parapharyngeal space

Question 15

What are the tubal tonsils?

Answer 15

• These are lymphoid tissue around the opening of the Eustachian tube in the lateral wall of the nasopharynx
• Lateral aspect of Waldeyer’s Ring

Question 16

What epithelium covers the tubal tonsils?

Answer 16

• ciliated pseudostratified epithelium

Question 17

What is the blood supply and innervation?

Answer 17

• Arterial Supply: Ascending Pharyngeal Artery
• Innervation: Maxillary and Glossopharyngeal Nerves

Question 18

What is the lymphatic drainage of the tubal tonsils?

Answer 18

• Retropharyngeal and deep cervical lymph nodes drain the tonsils

Question 19

What are the Palatine Tonsils?

Answer 19

• These are the tonsils
• They are located within the tonsillar bed of the lateral oropharynx wall - between the palatoglossal arch (anterior) and the palatopharyngeal arch (posterior)
• This forms lateral part of the Waldeyer’s ring

Question 20

What epithelium covers them?

Answer 20

• stratified non-keratinised squamous epithelium

Question 21

What is the structure of the Palatine Tonsilar Epithelium?

Answer 21

• The medial surface is free and projects into the pharynx
• The lateral surface is covered by a fibrous capsule and is separated from the superior constrictor by the tonsillar bed by loose areolar connective tissue

Question 22

What is the Blood Supply and Innervation of the Palatine Tonsils?

Answer 22

• Aterial supply to the tonsil = tonsillar branch of the facial artery
• Venous Drainage = via the external palatine vein
• The palatine tonsils receive innervation from the maxillary nerve and Glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 23

What is the lymphatic drainage of the Palatine Tonsils?

Answer 23

• Drain into the Jugulodigastric and the upper deep cervical lymph nodes