Tonsillar crypt

Tonsillar crypts are small pockets or divots that appear in the tonsils. They are a natural part of the tonsil's anatomy and are involved in the immune response.

Anatomy

The tonsillar crypts are located in the palatine tonsils, which are part of the lymphatic system. The crypts are lined with stratified squamous epithelium, the same type of tissue that lines the rest of the oral cavity. The crypts increase the surface area of the tonsils, allowing them to come into contact with a larger volume of inhaled or ingested substances.

Function

The primary function of the tonsillar crypts is to trap inhaled or ingested pathogens. The crypts contain lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, which can then respond to these pathogens and initiate an immune response. The crypts also produce tonsilloliths, or tonsil stones, which are small, hard deposits of debris that have been trapped in the crypts.

Clinical significance

Tonsillar crypts can become enlarged or inflamed due to a variety of conditions, including tonsillitis and cryptic tonsillitis. In some cases, the crypts may need to be removed surgically in a procedure known as a tonsillectomy.

See also

• Tonsil
• Tonsillitis
• Tonsillectomy
• Tonsillolith