The pharyngeal tonsils, also known as adenoids, are a mass of lymphoid tissue located at the back of the nasal cavity, above the soft palate. They play a role in the immune system by helping to trap and filter out pathogens that enter through the nose and mouth. These tonsils are most prominent in children and tend to shrink as a person ages. Enlarged pharyngeal tonsils can lead to breathing difficulties, sleep apnea, or recurrent ear infections, often requiring medical evaluation or treatment.