Palatine Tonsil

The luminal surface of the palatine tonsil is lined by a stratified squamous epithelium. The epithelium deeply invaginates into the tonsil, forming the tonsillar crypts, which increase the surface area for antigen sampling by the lymphoid tissue beneath. The tonsil is separated from underlying tissue by a hemicapsule. The parenchyma of the tonsil contains diffuse and nodular lymphoid tissues. Note the presence of lymphoid follicles with germinal centers.