One of two masses of lymphoid tissue located at the back of the nose in the upper part of the throat that may obstruct normal breathing and make speech difficult when swollen. Often used in the plural.
The pharyngeal tonsils (tonsilla pharyngea), also known as adenoids, are a collection of lymphoid nodules located along the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx (upper throat). They vary in size in different individuals and are a part of the body's protection against infection. The tonsils contain germ-killing cells. The pharyngeal tonsil is sometimes referred to as Luschka's tonsil, after the German anatomist Hubert Luschka (1820-1875). When the pharyngeal tonsils become infected, they become inflamed and enlarge. The palatine tonsils and pharyngeal tonsils (adenoids) are two pairs of organs that seem to give more trouble than service to the body.