Pharynx: Palatine Tonsil

Question 1

Palatine tonsil

Answer 1

Mass of lymphoid tissue forming waldeyer’s ring lateral part

Question 2

Site

Answer 2

Lateral wall Oropharynx in tonsillar fossa between palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches

Question 3

Relations: above

Answer 3

Soft palate

Question 4

Relations: below

Answer 4

Dorsum of pharyngeal part tongue

Question 5

Relations: anterior

Answer 5

Palatoglossal arch contains Palatoglossus

Question 6

Relations: posterior

Answer 6

Palatopharyngeal arch contains Palatopharyngeus

Question 7

Relations: medial

Answer 7

Superficial free surface containing 12-15 tonsillar crypts

Question 8

Relations: lateral

Answer 8

Deep surface:
Covered by:
1. Fibrous capsule
2. Pharyngobasilar fascia
3. Superior constrictor muscle (forming together tonsillar bed)
Which separates tonsil from:
1. Ascending palatine artery
2. ICA (1inch behind and lateral to tonsil)
3. Paratotonsillar vein

Question 9

Atrial blood supply

Answer 9

1. Tonsillar artery
2. Ascending palatine
3. Dorsal lingual arteries
4. Lesser palatine arteries
5. Ascending pharyngeal

Question 10

Tonsillar artery

Answer 10

1. Main artery
2. From facial artery
3. Pierces superior constrictor

Question 11

Ascending palatine artery

Answer 11

From facial artery

Question 12

Dorsal lingual arteries

Answer 12

From 2nd part lingual artery

Question 13

Lesser palatine arteries

Answer 13

From greater palatine artery

Question 14

Ascending pharyngeal

Answer 14

From ECA

Question 15

Venous blood supply

Answer 15

One or more veins leave tonsil, transverse superior constrictor to join paratonsillar, pharyngeal, or facial vein

Question 16

Nerve supply

Answer 16

1. Tonsillar branch
   From Glossopharyngeal nerve
2. Lesser palatine branches
   From sphenopalatine ganglion

Question 17

Lymph drainage

Answer 17

Jugulodigastric node
(Under deep cervical node)

Question 18

Applied anatomy

Answer 18

1. Tonsillitis is a tonsil inflammation and may act as septic focus which requires surgical removal (tonsillectomy)
2. During operations, injury of paratonsillar vein may occur leading to hemorrhage
3. Referred pain from tonsil may radiate to middle ear due to common nerve supply of both (Glossopharyngeal nerve)