tonsils

[pusskin]

when i was 13, quite a few years ago ( lol) I had my tonsils out!
my question is -- why have we got tonsils anyway? What part do they play?

any ideas welcome, many thanks

[Sqad]

Waldeyers Ring..............Google it.

The tonsils backed up by the adenoids and other lymph tissue in the back of the mouth, from a formidable barrier to the entry of infection.

Not the only barrier to infection.

Sometimes due to repeated infections, the tonsils fail to provide the defence mechanism and become the focus of infection themselves and need to be removed.

The adenoids on the other hand, rarely, if ever become infected, but unfortunately may block the Eustachian Tube, contributing to the common childhood disease known as "Glue Ear" and removable becomes a necessity.

[pusskin]

many thanks sqad! ah I see now! I was talking to a friend and told her how I had a heomarage (cant spell) and had to have a transfusion , and put in isloation for a week!
I was fine till I coughed up the blood, and then hey presto!
So tonsils do play a big part then ----.

thanks for info sqad, will google later after dinner and see what comes up x pusskins.

[momac]

In other words..they are the soldiers of your throat.

[pusskin]

havent had time to google tonsils yet Squad! thanks again for info x

mimo -- I can understand why they call the tonsils,"soldiers of the throat"
such a meaningfull word --thanks x