Pits of pharyngeal tonsil

Fossulae tonsillae pharyngeae

  • Latin synonym: Fossulae tonsillares pharyngeae
  • Synonym: Tonsillar pits of pharyngeal tonsil
  • Related terms: Tonsillar pits

Definition

The pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid; nasopharyngeal tonsil) unlike other types of tonsils, has pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium and differs from the other tonsil types by lacking crypts, so we don't understand why the Terminologia Anatomica identify 'tonsillar pits' and 'tonssilar crypts' for the pharyngeal tonsils.

References

Text by Antoine Micheau, MD - Copyright IMAIOS