What kind of tonsils do humans have

National Library of Medicine. Updated January 27, The effect of tonsillectomy on obstructive sleep apnea: an overview of systematic reviews. Nat Sci Sleep. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

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Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. Find a Doctor Near You. Patient Testimonials. In: Myers E, ed. Operative Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; Technically, there are three sets of tonsils in the body: the pharyngeal tonsils, commonly known as adenoids, the palatine tonsils and the lingual tonsils, which are lymphatic tissue on the surface tissue of the base of the tongue, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

When people refer to tonsils, though, they are usually talking about the palatine tonsils. These tonsils are oval, pea-sized clusters of lymph cells in the pharynx at the opening of either side of the throat. Though they may seem large in children, the size of the tonsils tends to get smaller when a person becomes an adult.

Though small and seemingly useless, tonsils have several uses. The tonsils prevent foreign objects from slipping into the lungs. Think of them as goalies for the throat. They also filter bacteria and viruses.

On top of all that, they produce white blood cells and antibodies, according to the Mayo Clinic. Chronic inflammation of the tonsils can cause their cells to increase in size hypertrophy. Enlarged tonsils can make breathing more difficult and disrupt mucus drainage in the pharynx. Those with a tonsillectomy show no significant long term difference in immune system function, though minor changes in immune cell and antibody levels do occur. Key Terms tonsillitis : Inflammation of the tonsils.

Frequently accompanied by an adenoidectomy. Location and Structure of the Tonsils There are four pairs of tonsils located within the pharynx. The adenoids are located in the wall of nasopharynx. The palatine tonsils are located in the sides of the oropharynx. The tubal tonsils are located in the wall of the nasopharynx near the entrance to each Eustachian tube. The lingual tonsils are located behind the tongue.