УДК: 616.28-008.1-053.3/.4-073.7

Abstract.  This work presents analysis of modern scientific literature on  determination of the function of tonsils of Waldeyer’s ring (pharyngeal lymphoid  tissue ring) and their role in the establishment and functioning of the local and  humoral immunity in human organism.   Tonsils are the  «first line of defense»  courtesy of the factors on nonspecific  protection of the mucous membranes of upper air passages. Characteristic are for  these factors: diverse action mechanisms; they have typically antifungal, antibacterial  action, which was noted  in the factors of the system of non-specific secretory  lipoprotease inhibitors, elafins and lactoferrins.  Differential immunodiagnostics between some pathological conditions of these  structures can be carried out by  way of  determination of modern noninvasive  methods of study  of the  immune factors, such as determination of  cytokines,  protective proteins, allergy, oropharyngeal secretion, reaginic antibodies;  as well as  for the assessment of provided treatment efficacy.  Bearing in mind the obtained data of the analysis of literature sources it can be  said, that even under the conditions of a chronic inflammation the Waldeyer’s ring  tonsils have a marked immunological effect owing to cytokines, cells-regulators and  effector cell. Because even under such conditions they can produce polypeptides that  have the regulatory and antitumoral capacity.  The  results of the studied literature  sources indicate of the posed problem. Thus, as the active components of the local and systemic immunity the Waldeyer’s ring tonsils  must be maximally preserved except cases when they serve as the permanent source of infection with irreversible changes and negative effect on the associated organs.  
Keywords: palatine tonsils,  mouth mucosa,  lymphoid tissue,  immunity, tonsillitis.