Tonsils: Know These Organs Better Through These 5 Curiosities

What do you know about the tonsils - besides the fact that they are located there in the throat region? The truth is that unless they inflame and start to bother and hurt, no one pays much attention to these structures.

(The Dr. Oz Show)

However, according to Jordan Rosenfeld of Mental_Floss, these organs - which are nothing more than clumps of lymphatic tissue - are super important to our body as they act as "immune guardians of the upper digestive and respiratory tract." Want to know more about what the tonsils are, what they are for, and how they work? Check it out below:

1 - We have more than one tonsil group

(Oral Health)

When we talk about tonsils (or tonsils), we usually refer to the structures that are in the throat and are more visible when we stick the tongue out of the mouth, right? However, these are just one of the tonsil groups we have - the so-called palatines, which lie at the base of the tongue. In addition to the palatine tonsils, we have the lingual, tubal, and pharyngeal - or adenoid - and their set is called the Waldeyer Lymphatic Ring.

2 - They are among the first structures to take action in case of infection

Do you know who sounds the alarm and activates the immune system when we swallow or inhale agents that can cause disease? Yes, the tonsils. When we come in contact with pathogens orally or through the airways, these organisms bind to immune cells that cover the tonsils - and they react by activating B and T lymphocytes, which are cells produced by our bodies to fight off infections.

3 - They need to be removed sometimes

Although tonsils are an integral part of the immune system, when inflammation in these structures becomes chronic or when they become obstructive to the airway or digestive tract, the tonsils need to be surgically removed through a procedure called tonsillectomy (or tonsillectomy). But do not worry! Although they are lacking, our body's defenses are reorganized to cover this "low."

(Natural Lifestyle Adviser)

In the case of adenoids, if they become obstructive, it is common for nasal sinus breathing and drainage to be impaired, resulting in constant ear infections and sinusitis. In addition, the affected person is forced to breathe through the mouth, which in children may result in problems with the development of some facial bones and facial deformities, and in adults, disorders such as sleep apnea and snoring.

4 - Speaking of surgery ...

There are records that tonsil removal surgery had been going on for at least 3, 000 years! Former Indian doctors documented the methods used for tonsil removal - and the procedure was not always recommended for treating chronic infections or obstructions.

(Very Well)

The operation used to be indicated to treat asthma seizures, including bronchitis, hoarseness and urinary incontinence and, alternatively, could be replaced by treatments consisting of frog fat, oils, ointments and corrosive formulas to treat infections.

(Shutterstock)

We can deduce that the procedure was beyond painful, since there were no anesthetics nor the technology of today, thought to minimize the suffering of patients during and after the operation. Currently, tonsillectomies are performed under general anesthesia, usually taking about 30 minutes, and patients have at their disposal a wide range of medications and treatments to make the postoperative period less traumatic.

5 - They may be affected by cancer caused by an STD.

As you know, there are several cancers associated with alcohol consumption and smoking that affect the mouth, throat and neck region. However, this disease can also be triggered by the presence of HPV, that is, the human papilloma virus, an agent whose main route of transmission is sexual - and the incidence of these cancers (resulting from STD) has increased significantly. in the last years.