HB-088 · Lymphatic & Immune · Part
Tonsils
Also called: tonsils Tonsillae
3D anatomy data Classes 6-8 · Classes 9-10 · Classes 11-12 Beginner Draft - educator review
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Parts: palatine; pharyngeal; lingual tonsils
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About
Tonsils are patches of lymphoid tissue in the throat that meet germs entering by the mouth and nose.
- 📍 Where it is
- Palatine tonsils at the sides of the throat; adenoids and lingual tonsil nearby.
- 🧱 Structure
- Lymphoid tissue with deep pits (crypts) covered by mucous membrane.
- ⚙️ What it does
- Early immune defence against inhaled and swallowed germs.
💡 Key facts
- The palatine tonsils are the ones you can see.
- Tonsillitis is infection and swelling of the tonsils.
- Together the tonsils form a ring (Waldeyer's ring).
✗ Tonsils are glands that make saliva
✓ They are lymphoid tissue for defence.
📒 Words to know
- palatine tonsil
- tonsil at the side of the throat
- crypt
- pit in the tonsil
- adenoid
- tonsil at the back of the nose
🏫 Related lessons
- Cells and microorganisms Classes 6-8
- Health education Classes 9-10
Generic GayaGnan topic lessons. Check your own board's syllabus for the exact chapter.
🔎 Sources and credits
Catalog description: Waldeyer ring overview.
- OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology 2e, ch. 21 (lymphatic and immune system) (accessed 2026-10-30)
- 3D models: BodyParts3D (DBCLS) and the Human Reference Atlas (HuBMAP), CC BY 4.0, with GayaGnan schematics. 3D model credits
For learning only. This site does not give medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and it does not collect any health data.