Tonsils are graded on a scale from 0 to 4. Zero means you’ve had them removed, 1 means they’re barely visible, 2 means they’re normal, 3 means they’re large and just about touching that thing that hangs down at the back of your throat called the uvula, and 4 means they’re ginormous.

How many tonsils do you have?

There are 3 pairs of tonsils in the throat Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more.

Which tonsil is most commonly removed?

There are several types of tonsils. The palatine tonsils are removed in a tonsillectomy. Palatine tonsils are collections of lymph tissue on the right and left side of the upper throat (also called the oropharynx).