Anatomical localisation of the tonsils in oropharynx and nasopharynx of sheep

The topography and distribution of the various tonsils were studied anatomically in sheep.The palatine, paraepiglottic and lingual tonsils in Oropharynx and Pharyngeal, Tubal tonsil and Soft palate tonsils in Nasopharynx were studied macroscopically.Mid sagittal sections of freshly slaughtered sheep heads were fixed in 2% Acetic acid for 12-24 hours.After fixation the tonsils were macroscopically visible as white elevated patches in the mucosa which can be clearly appreciated.Pharyngeal tonsil was one of the biggest tonsils noticed in sheep which was seen as white nodule in the caudal part of pharyngeal septum.The surface of this tonsil showed several folds which were mostly oriented longitudinally.Tubal tonsil appeared as scattered nodules in the lateral pharyngeal wall, ventral, and mainly caudal, to the opening of the auditory tube.The number of these nodules on each side varied from 40-60.The tonsil of the soft palate is located at the dorsal surface (nasopharyngeal side) of the soft palate they were small pin head size nodules scattered in the mucosa of rostral aspect of soft palate no aggregations were seen in the caudal aspect.The lingual tonsil was not macroscopically visible in sheep and consisted of scattered small aggregations of lymphocytes.