Waldeyers

Waldeyers is an eponym in anatomy derived from the German anatomist Heinrich Wilhelm Gottfried von Waldeyer-Hartz (1836–1921). Several anatomical structures and concepts are named in his honor, most prominently Waldeyer's ring and Waldeyer's fascia.

Waldeyer's ring, also called the pharyngeal lymphoid ring, refers to a circular arrangement of lymphoid tissue at the entrance of the respiratory and digestive tracts. It comprises the pharyngeal tonsil (adenoids), the tubal tonsils, the palatine tonsils, and the lingual tonsils, forming a protective shield against inhaled or ingested pathogens. The term is widely used in medical literature to describe this lymphoid coordination in the upper pharynx.

Waldeyer's fascia is a fascia in the head and neck region named for Waldeyer. It is used in anatomical descriptions to delineate connective tissue planes in the pharyngeal area and to aid in surgical and radiological understanding of nearby spaces.

In historical and educational contexts, Waldeyer's name appears in other eponymous terms and in discussions of Waldeyer-Hartz's contributions to anatomy and physiology, particularly regarding lymphatic tissue and mucosal immunity. In English-language medical literature, Waldeyer's ring remains the standard term, though some non-English sources may spell or hyphenate eponyms differently.