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They protect against foreign substances that you inhale or ingest through the nose or mouth. Once trapped in the tonsils, bacteria or viruses are then transported to lymph nodes , where specialized immune cells cluster to fight infection.
However, in some cases, tonsils may become infected and need to be removed through a very common procedure called a tonsillectomy. The three pairs of tonsils are:. A bit contrary to their function, the tonsils can become infected.
When examining your tonsils, a physician will ask for your medical history or your child's, perform a physical exam, and, in some cases, take an X-ray to further examine the adenoids or blood tests to determine whether mononucleosis a contagious infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus is the cause of the tonsil enlargement.
Tonsil enlargement is not always considered a problem. However, individuals with enlarged tonsils should be evaluated for the following possible problems related to enlarged tonsils:. The tonsils can be surgically removed if necessary. This is called a tonsillectomy. There are two types of tonsillectomies: complete removal and partial removal. At one time, physicians removed tonsils after just one or two infections.
Due to the risks associated with removing the tonsils, surgeons have become much more conservative in offering this surgery. They function similarly but have a few structural differences. The tonsils are made of secondary lymphoid tissue and covered with an epithelium characteristic of the part of the body where they are located. For example, the adenoids and tubal tonsils are covered with the ciliated psuedostratified columnar epithelium of the nasopharynx, while the palatine and lingual tonsils are made up of the non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium of the oropharynx.
The tonsils also contain very deep and narrow folds in their tissues called crypts. Like the thymus, the tonsils reach their largest size near puberty and gradually atrophy thereafter. Tonsils : Palatine tonsils can be seen on the left and right sides at the back of the throat. The tonsils primarily facilitate adaptive immune responses in the upper respiratory tract, one of the most common pathways for pathogen entry in the body.
They contain specialized M cells that collect antigens produced by respiratory tract pathogens. The secondary lymphoid tissue within the tonsils functions like the same type of the tissue in lymph nodes. Captured antigens are presented to B and T cells within the tonsil, then the B cells migrate to germinal centers within the tonsil as an adaptive immune response is initiated.
Additionally, evidence exists that suggests that tonsils may play a role in T cell maturation and development like the thymus does, but more research is needed. Tonsil removal tonsillectomy is a common procedure to treat swollen and infected lymph nodes tonsillitis. It does not appear to cause weakened immune function. Chronic infection of the adenoids can cause adenoid hypertrophy, increases in cell size from repeated damage. The pharyngeal tonsils are commonly referred to as adenoids and make up the majority of lymphatic tissue within Waldeyer's ring.
Adenoids grow from birth through the first 6 or 7 years of life and begin to shrink by adolescence. No matter how statistically safe a procedure has proven to be, every surgery has risks. Post Tonsillectomy Hemorrhage PTH is a potentially serious complication that has been reported in literature for both adult and pediatric patients. Before making any surgical decision, you should speak with your doctor about any potential risks.
Harley Jr. Woloszko, Jean, and Gilbride, Charles.
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