A Review of Tonsillectomy Techniques and Technologies

The circular band of lymphoid tissue within the pharynx consisting of the adenoids, the palatine tonsils (Figure 1), and lingual tonsils is known as Waldeyer’s ring. The palatine tonsils are lymphoid tissue with prominent germinal centers and the palatine tonsils, in contrast to the lingual tonsils and adenoids, have a distinct capsule1which separates the tonsils from the lateral pharyngeal walls. The tonsil lies within a bed of three muscles that make up the tonsillar fossa. Forming the anterior pillar is the palatoglossus muscle and the posterior pillar is the palatopharyngeus muscle, while the superior constrictor muscle makes up the bed of the fossa. Medially, the tonsil crypts lay exposed to the oropharynx with specialize stratified squamous epithelium.