tonsillar crypt

They have associated mucous glands which are drained by ducts directly into the single tonsillar crypt.

Macrophages and other white blood cells concentrate by the tonsillar crypts as well, in response to the microorganisms attracted to the crypts.

However, the tonsillar crypts often provide such an inviting environment to bacteria that bacterial colonies may form solidified "plugs" or "stones" within the crypts.

In particular, sufferers of chronic sinusitis or post-nasal drip frequently suffer from these overgrowths of bacteria in the tonsillar crypts.

Approximately 7% of the population suffer from small bits of calcified matter in tonsillar crypts called tonsilloliths that smell extremely foul when released and can cause bad breath.

The human palatine tonsils (PT) are covered by stratified squamous epithelium that extends into deep and partly branched tonsillar crypts, of which there are about 10 to 30.

Tonsilloliths, also known as tonsil stones or tonsilar calculi (singular: calculus), are clusters of calcified material that form in the crevices of the tonsils (tonsillar crypts.)

Accordingly, the tonsillar crypts serve a forward sentry role for the immune system, by providing early exposure of immune system cells to infectious organisms which may be introduced into the body via food or other ingested matter.