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Lymphadenoid Tissues in the Upper Airway

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Book cover Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children

Part of the book series: Respiratory Medicine ((RM))

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Abstract

The lymphadenoid tissues in the upper airway are relatively organized lymphoepithelial structures that play an important role in protecting the upper airway against foreign pathogens. The importance of the presence of lymphadenoid tissue in humans was recognized as long ago as 1884 by Waldeyer, who described its specific arrangement as a “ring” of lymphoid tissue, now termed as the Waldeyer’s ring. The palatine tonsils are major components of the lymphoid tissues contained in the Waldeyer’s ring and appear to function as the host’s first line of defense against exogenous microorganisms and other potential air pollutants and allergens. Since its initial description, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has emerged as a highly prevalent condition in the pediatric age range, and adenotonsillar hypertrophy has been recognized as the major pathophysiological contributor of OSA in children and also plays an important role in another frequent condition in children, namely, recurrent tonsillitis (RI). Therefore, in this chapter, we summarize the current cumulative evidence on the histological and pathological features of human lymphadenoid tissues, delineate their fundamental immunological functions, and provide insights into various interactions involved in the initiation of immune responses, such as to enable a better conceptual framework on the pathophysiology of pediatric OSA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, KCBD, Room 415, 900 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    Jinkwan Kim PhD, MPH

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Pritzker School of Medicine, Comer Children’s Hospital, The University of Chicago, 5721 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 8000, Suite K-160, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA

    David Gozal MD

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  1. Jinkwan Kim PhD, MPH
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Correspondence to Jinkwan Kim PhD, MPH .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Sleep Medicine, Pritzker School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, S. Maryland Ave. 5721, Chicago, 60637, Illinois, USA

    Leila Kheirandish-Gozal

  2. Pritzker School of Medicine, Comer Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, S. Maryland Ave. 5721, Chicago, 60637, Illinois, USA

    David Gozal

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Kim, J., Gozal, D. (2012). Lymphadenoid Tissues in the Upper Airway. In: Kheirandish-Gozal, L., Gozal, D. (eds) Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children. Respiratory Medicine. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-725-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-725-9_3

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