Fletcher Allen, a Vermont university hospital and medical center, serves all of
Vermont and the northern New York region. Located in Burlington, Fletcher Allen is a regional, academic healthcare center and teaching hospital in alliance with the University of Vermont.
Tonsils, Adenoids, and Uvula
The tonsils and adenoids are made of lymph tissue in the throat. They help make substances (antibodies) that help the body fight infection. The tonsils can be seen on either side of the throat at the back of the mouth. The adenoids are higher in the throat and usually cannot be seen.
The uvula is the small, finger-shaped piece of tissue that hangs down from the soft palate in the back of the throat. It can usually be seen when a person opens his or her mouth wide.
Last Revised: December 6, 2012
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Charles M. Myer, III, MD - Otolaryngology
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