Name : MOHAMMAD I ZZAT BIN OON ID Number : 10 1 188

PALATINE TONSIL: SITE, STRUCTURE & FUNCTIONS

SITE
At the entrance of the throat between two arching folds of the pharynx or simply located in the lateral walls of the oral part of the pharynx

STRUCTURE
ORGANIZATION Show an increased organization: Incomplete capsule of compact FECT Septa of C.T. divide the organ into lobules. Crypts penetrate the lymphoid tissue (10-20 crypts per tonsil).

STROMA It consists of coarse internal framework of reticular cells (mesodermal origin) and reticular fibers. Reticular fibers are continuous with fibers of septa and capsule, also with local blood and lymph vessels, and nerves. The lateral and posterior surfaces are covered by a connective tissue capsule which: , separate the tonsil from adjacent organs act as a barrier against spreading of tonsillar infections have some mucous acini are present in the connective tissue of the capsule

PARENCHYMA A dense sheet of lymphoid tissue parenchyma bordered by moistnon-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium of crypts and below by incomplete C.T. capsule. Epithelium dips inside the parenchyma to form primary and secondary crypts (1020 per tonsil). These crypts (trabecules) divide the tonsil into lobules. The tonsils contain four lymphoid compartments that influence immune functions, namely: reticular crypt epithelium extrafollicular area mantle zone follicular germinal centers In human palatine tonsils, the very first part exposed to the outside environment is tonsillar epithelium. The lumen of the crypt contains desquamated epithelial cells, live and dead lymphocytes and bacteria. The lymphatic nodules are present underneath the epithelium and around the cryptsas a single layer (each with cap of small lymphocytes and a germinal center). The loose lymphoid tissue consists of loosely arranged lymphocytes, plasma cells, leukocytes and macrophages which present in between the lymphatic nodules. No lymph sinuses are present. DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES It can be diagnose by examining presence of crypts and incomplete capsule.

FUNCTIONS
1. Local immunity, that is defense of the host against bacterial and viral infection. a. Tonsilar B cells can mature to produce all the five major Ig classes (humoral immunity). b. Considerable T-cell response. 2. One of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALT) that protect the body from the entry of exogenous material through mucosal sites. 3. Gives advantages in success of regional mucosal immunity induced by intranasal vaccines. a. intranasal immunization with live, attenuated rubella virus vaccine has been reported to prime tonsillar lymphocytes much better than subcutaneous vaccination.

REFERENCE
Professors of Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine. Palatine Tonsils. Module 6 Blood, Lymph & Immune System. Second ed. Alexandria. 2011; 98-99. Immune System 1. http://www.people.vcu.edu/~aszakal/course_syllabi/IMMSYST.I2.htm [accessed on 11.07.2011] Palatine Tonsil. (2 May 2011) http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Book&bookcmd=download&collection_id =b415ec7df9af642e&writer=rl&return_to=Palatine+tonsil[accessed on 11.07.2011]