The tonsils are two oval-shaped, fleshy masses of lymphoid tissue located at the back of the throat, one on each side. Specifically, the most commonly referred to tonsils are the palatine tonsils, which sit in the lateral walls of the oropharynx between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches, just behind the soft palate. They are visible when you open your mouth wide and look in a mirror
. There are actually four types of tonsils forming a ring called Waldeyer's ring around the throat opening:
- Palatine tonsils: On either side of the back of the throat (most visible)
- Pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid): Located high in the throat behind the nose, not visible without special instruments
- Lingual tonsils: At the base of the tongue on its posterior surface
- Tubal tonsils: Near the openings of the Eustachian tubes in the nasopharynx
Together, these tonsils form part of the immune system, helping to trap and fight germs entering through the mouth and nose. The palatine tonsils are the ones most commonly affected by infections such as tonsillitis
