Article
Article
Tonsillitis
Article By:
Donaldson, James A. Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Last reviewed:January 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.700400
An inflammation of the tonsil. Tonsillitis is a nonspecific term usually referring to bacterial or viral infection involving all or part of Waldeyer's ring, a collection of lymphatic tissue encircling the pharynx. It consists primarily of the tonsils (palatine tonsils), adenoids (pharyngeal tonsils), and lingual tonsils. The palatine tonsils are readily seen at the edges of the soft palate between the anterior tonsillar pillar (glossopalatinus muscle) and the posterior tonsillar pillar (pharyngopalatinus muscle). The pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) cover the vault and posterior wall of the nasopharynx and cannot be seen unless the nasopharynx is examined with a mirror or the soft palate is retracted. The lingual tonsils are located at the base of the tongue.
The content above is only an excerpt.
About AccessScience
AccessScience provides the most accurate and trustworthy scientific information available.
Recognized as an award-winning gateway to scientific knowledge, AccessScience is an amazing online resource that contains high-quality reference material written specifically for students. Contributors include more than 10,000 highly qualified scientists and 46 Nobel Prize winners.
MORE THAN 8700 articles covering all major scientific disciplines and encompassing the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology and McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology
115,000-PLUS definitions from the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms
3000 biographies of notable scientific figures
MORE THAN 19,000 downloadable images and animations illustrating key topics
ENGAGING VIDEOS highlighting the life and work of award-winning scientists
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY and additional readings to guide students to deeper understanding and research
LINKS TO CITABLE LITERATURE help students expand their knowledge using primary sources of information
