Survey and details of palatine tonsil ('lymphoepithelial tissues', 'gut-associated lymphatic tissue' or GALT) (human)

Stain: Azan. The survey in (A) shows that the palatine tonsil (localized in the lateral wall of the oropharynx) consists of crypts (1) and folds of the surface epithelium (stratified squamous) surrounded by accumulations of lymphoid cells organized in follicles (2). (B): the lining epithelium (5) is separated from the oral salivary glands (3) including ducts (3a) by thick connective tissue layers (4) (blue). (C) the epithelium can be heavily infiltrated by lymphocytes resulting in an incomplete epithelial basal lamina and desquamation of epithelial cells (5). Tonsils do not have afferent lymph vessels, but efferent vessels are present (not visible at this enlargement).