Palatine tonsil
Tonsilla palatina
Definition
The palatine tonsil is a paired lymphoid organ located in the lateral portion of the oral part of the pharynx, in the tonsillar fossa, caudal to the palatoglossal arch.
The palatine tonsils contribute to the immune response in the upper respiratory tract. In brachycephalic dogs, their excessive volume can contribute to the upper airway obstructive syndrome.
References
Köhler C, Fromme V, Kohl S, Winter K, Weidauer J, Kiefer I. 3T MRI characteristics of the palatine tonsil in brachycephalic dogs. Vet Rec. 2022 Mar;190(5):e1077. doi: 10.1002/vetr.1077. Epub 2021 Nov 8. PMID: 34750822.
Evans HE, de Lahunta A. Miller’s anatomy of the dog, 4th edition, Elsevier Saunders, St Louis, 2012.
