Blood Supply of Tonsil - Easy Mnemonic

🩸 Blood Supply of Tonsil

The blood supply of the palatine tonsil is a very common viva question and often confusing because multiple arteries contribute to it.

In this post, we’ll break it down step by step and use an easy mnemonic to remember it effortlessly.

🧠 Key Concept

👉 All arterial supply to the tonsil comes from branches of the External Carotid Artery (ECA).

The external carotid artery ascends in the neck and terminates as:

• Superficial temporal artery
• Maxillary artery

From its branches arise the arteries supplying the tonsil.

🔴 Arterial Supply of Tonsil

1. Tonsillar Artery ⭐ (Main Supply)

• Branch of Facial artery
• Principal arterial supply of the tonsil
• Enters tonsil through the inferior pole

2. Ascending Palatine Artery

• Branch of Facial artery
• Supplies the upper part of the tonsil

3. Dorsal Linguae Branches

• Branches of Lingual artery
• Supply the inferior and posterior parts of the tonsil

4. Ascending Pharyngeal Artery

• Branch of External carotid artery
• Gives small tonsillar branches

5. Descending Palatine Artery

• Branch of Maxillary artery
• Contributes to tonsillar supply

🚩 Easy Mnemonic to Remember – MAALT

👉 MAALT helps you remember all 5 arteries supplying the tonsil:

📌 Most important artery:
👉 Tonsillar artery (branch of facial artery)

⚠️ Viva & Clinical Importance

• Tonsillar artery is the main source of bleeding during tonsillectomy
• Injury to branches may cause primary hemorrhage
• Venous bleeding (post tonsillectomy) is more commonly due to paratonsillar vein (external palatine vein).

📌 One-Line Viva Answer

Blood supply of tonsil is from 5 branches of the external carotid artery: Tonsillar artery, Ascending palatine, Dorsal linguae, Ascending pharyngeal, and Descending palatine arteries.

🧠 Exam Pearls

• All arteries → External carotid artery
• Tonsillar artery → main supply
• Remember MAALT as Mnemonic