Anatomy of the palatine tonsil

The tonsils are positioned laterally in the pharyngeal wall between the palatoglossal arch and palatopharyngeal arch (the anterior and posterior tonsillar pillars), which merge superiorly to become the soft palate. Figure A shows a sagittal section through the oropharynx. Figure B shows a transverse section through the tonsillar region from medial (palatoglossus muscle) to lateral (palatopharyngeus muscle).