| Tonsillar crypts | |
|---|---|
 Low-power microscope magnification of a cross-section through one of the tonsillar crypts (running diagonally) as it opens onto the surface of the throat (at the top). Stratifiedepithelium (e) covers the throat's surface and continues as a lining of the crypt. Beneath the surface are numerous nodules (f) oflymphoid tissue. Many lymph cells (dark-colored region) pass from the nodules toward the surface and will eventually mix with thesaliva as salivary corpuscles (s). | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | cryptae tonsillares |
| TA98 | A05.2.01.015 A13.2.02.002 A13.2.02.003 A05.3.01.008 |
| TA2 | 5180,5190 |
| FMA | 76579 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The humanpalatine tonsils (PT) are covered bystratified squamous epithelium that extends into deep and partly branchedtonsillar crypts, of which there are about 10 to 30.[1] Thecrypts greatly increase the contact surface between environmental influences and lymphoid tissue. In an average adult palatine tonsil the estimatedepithelial surface area of the crypts is 295 cm2, in addition to the 45 cm2 of epithelium covering theoropharyngeal surface.[citation needed]
The crypts extend through the full thickness of the tonsil reaching almost to its hemicapsule. In healthy tonsils the openings of the crypts are fissure-like, and the walls of thelumina are in apposition. A computerized three-dimensional reconstruction of the palatine tonsil crypt system showed that in the centre of the palatine tonsil are tightly packed ramified crypts that join with each other, while on the periphery there is a rather simple and sparse arrangement.[citation needed]
The crypt system is not merely a group ofinvaginations of the tonsillar epithelium but a highly complicated network of canals with special types of epithelium and with various structures surrounding the canals, such as blood and lymphatic vessels and germinal centers.[citation needed] The largest and deepest of the crypts is thecrypta magna located near to the upper pole near thesoft palate.[2] The crypto magna represents the remains of thesecond pharyngeal pouch.[2]
Macrophages and otherwhite blood cells concentrate by the tonsillar crypts as well, in response to the microorganisms attracted to the crypts. Accordingly, the tonsillar crypts serve a forward sentry role for theimmune system, by providing early exposure of immune system cells to infectious organisms which may be introduced into the body via food or other ingested matter.[citation needed]
However, the tonsillar crypts often provide such an inviting environment tobacteria that bacterial colonies may form solidified "plugs" or "stones" within the crypts. In particular, sufferers of chronicsinusitis orpost-nasal drip frequently suffer from these overgrowths of bacteria in the tonsillar crypts.[medical citation needed] These small whitish plugs, termed "tonsilloliths" and sometimes known as "tonsil stones," have a foul smell and can contribute tobad breath; furthermore, they can obstruct the normal flow ofpus from the crypts, and may irritate the throat (people with tonsil stones may complain of the feeling that something is stuck in their throat).[citation needed]
Lingual tonsils in humans also have long crypts but, unlike the crypts in the palatine tonsils, they're unbranched.[3]
The small folds in adenoids are sometimes described as crypts.[4]
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