According to reference book “Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health,” the tonsils are lymphoid tissues that are often partially embedded in the mucous membranes. Furthermore, these structures are a part of the lymphatic system that aids in the deterrence of infection in the human anatomy (1242). The tonsils’ primary function in this system is its vigilant prevention of pathogen invasions in the upper respiratory tract. This is made possible by the abundance of lymph nodes in its framework thus filtering out the circulating lymph of bacteria and any other foreign material that gain access to the body especially those that pass through the nose and the mouth. Through such a definition, one cannot therefore in anyway claim that the tonsils are remnants of a once functioning organ for it in itself has an integral task in the human anatomy. Furthermore, the assumption that the removal of this structure does not greatly affect the body at all can also be falsified due to the apparent importance of the organ known as the tonsils. This can be additionally illustrated by Bergman and Howe as they cite examples of different research results on their book “Vestigial Organs are Fully Functional.” According to them, most studies show that although there are no significant differences in the number of colds, sore throats and other respiratory infection occurrences between children who had their tonsils removed and those who have not, there are, however, marked increase in the acquisition of strep throat and the eventual development of Hodgkin’s disease (approximately three times as likely) for those who had undergone tonsillectomies (Bergman and Howe, 77). Looking at this, it is therefore obvious that not only do the tonsils aid in the prevention of infection in the upper respiratory tract, it also helps in the early development of the human immune system.

Most recently, there have been studies that are being done that link various lymphoid tissues, especially the tonsils, to the covert development of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (more commonly known as the HIV) in the body (Haase, 1). According to Dr. Haase of the University of Minnesota Microbiology Department, the HIV is similar to the virus called visna-maedi which infects its host extremely slowly thus earning the name “the wasting disease.” Furthermore, she adds that due to its latent capabilities, visna and the HIV are both quite difficult to detect when one is scanning for them (Haase, 2). Through this, the virus can create a covert pool of genes that is virtually imperceptible thus making it seem that the disease has completely gone in remission. Initially, it was not known how such an accumulation of large amounts of the virus can progress without being detected, however, through the use of more routine immune surveillance, it was determined that these latent viruses infect mobile lymphocytes and monocytes. By way of this, these pathogens were able to multiply in number without being noticed.

Although it may seem that this revelation gives reason for the removal of the tonsils and other lymphatic organs for that matter, there is, however, a positive discovery that coincided with this breakthrough. Through further research, scientists were able to determine that through these infected lymphoid tissues, an estimated amount of HIV-RNA can be determined. By this, the amount of the virus produced in the lymphocytes per day can be established using the total number of productively infected mononuclear cells and their intracellular concentration of viral-RNA (50,000 cells per gram of lymphoid tissue or 40 million cells in a 70 kg patient)(Haase, 5). By using this knowledge, it is therefore obvious that the one or two drug therapy sessions commonly employed recently cannot be sufficient to prevent the continued production of the virus stores in the lymphoid tissue.

Another benefit that the discovery of viral pools in the tonsils (and other lymph tissues) is that one can now monitor the amount of viral cells destroyed due to treatment and the amount of treatment necessary as the need for it changes. This is done, according to Dr. Haase, by firstly calculating the initial therapy-induced decrease in viral production in the blood. Through this, it is then possible to estimate the pre-treatment production in lymphoid tissues by using the calculations of the initial decrease (Haase, 6). By using this knowledge, it is hence possible to individualize a treatment for HIV and therefore making it more suitable for patient to patient.

In conclusion, because of earlier misconceptions regarding the tonsil’s alleged uselessness, and its consistent inflammation, many had opted to get theirs removed by undergoing tonsillectomy. Such a notion, however, is now falsified though the use of various scientific researches that display the apparent importance of this organ. Hence, through the revelation that this structure is important in the filtering out of pathogens, development of the human immune system, and its possible relevance to the further comprehension of HIV and its eventual cure, the tonsils (pharyngeal, palatine, and lingual) therefore cannot be rudimentary for they perform various important and irreplaceable tasks in the human anatomical system.

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Miller, Benjamin MD. 1987, “Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health,” Philadelphia:W.B. Saunders Company

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