tonsila

Tonsila is a term found in medical Latin and in multilingual medical texts that refers to the tonsil, the lymphoid tissue located at the entrance to the airway and throat. In English, the standard term is tonsil (plural: tonsils). The form tonsilla, and its Latin plural tonsillae, has historically been used to denote small rounded masses of lymphoid tissue, including the palatine tonsils, the pharyngeal tonsil, and other tonsillar tissues that form part of Waldeyer’s ring.

The palatine tonsils (tonsilla palatina) are two ovoid masses on either side of the oropharynx. The pharyngeal tonsil (tonsilla pharyngea) sits high on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx. The lingual tonsils are located at the base of the tongue. Together with other lymphoid tissues, they comprise Waldeyer’s ring, which participates in immune defense by sampling inhaled and ingested pathogens.

Clinical note: Enlargement or infection of the tonsillar tissues can cause tonsillitis. Chronic tonsillitis or obstructive symptoms may lead to tonsillectomy, the surgical removal of the tonsils.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from Latin tonsilla, a diminutive form used in medical Latin. Modern English usage typically prefers tonsil rather than the Latin-form tonsila, though historical or multilingual texts may retain the latter.

See also: Tonsil, Tonsillitis, Waldeyer’s ring, Adenoids.