EUSTACHIAN TONSIL Meaning and
Definition
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The Eustachian tonsil, also known as the pharyngeal tonsil or adenoid, is a lymphatic tissue located in the back of the nasal cavity, specifically in the upper part of the nasopharynx. It is named after the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx.
The Eustachian tonsil is composed of a collection of lymphoid follicles and is part of the body's immune system. Its primary function is to help protect the body against infections by trapping and filtering out harmful bacteria and viruses that may enter the respiratory system through the nasal passages.
During childhood, the Eustachian tonsil is usually larger and more prominent, gradually reaching its maximum size around the age of 5 or 6. As children grow older, it tends to shrink in size and may eventually disappear in adolescence or early adulthood.
However, in some cases, the Eustachian tonsil can become enlarged or infected, resulting in a condition known as adenoid hypertrophy. This can lead to various symptoms such as nasal congestion, difficulty breathing through the nose, snoring, sleep apnea, recurrent ear infections, and hearing problems.
Treatment for adenoid hypertrophy may involve medication to manage symptoms, or in severe cases, surgical removal of the Eustachian tonsil. This procedure, called adenoidectomy, is often performed alongside a tonsillectomy, where the palatine tonsils are also removed.
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Gerlach's t., a collection of lymphoid tissue within the Eustachian tube near its pharyngeal orifice, noduli lymphatici tubarii.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for EUSTACHIAN TONSIL
- wustachian tonsil
- sustachian tonsil
- dustachian tonsil
- rustachian tonsil
- 4ustachian tonsil
- 3ustachian tonsil
- eystachian tonsil
- ehstachian tonsil
- ejstachian tonsil
- eistachian tonsil
- e8stachian tonsil
- e7stachian tonsil
- euatachian tonsil
- euztachian tonsil
- euxtachian tonsil
- eudtachian tonsil
- euetachian tonsil
- euwtachian tonsil
- eusrachian tonsil
- eusfachian tonsil
Etymology of EUSTACHIAN TONSIL
The word "Eustachian" is derived from the name of the 16th-century Italian anatomist Bartolomeo Eustachio, who first described the structure now known as the Eustachian tube. The word "tonsil" originated from the Latin term "tonsilla", meaning a "small lump or swelling". So, the term "Eustachian tonsil" refers to the collection of lymphoid tissue located near the Eustachian tube, which is named after Bartolomeo Eustachio.
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