Why do we have a uvula

While swallowing, food is intended to go down your throat obviously. The uvula is there to block the passage into the nasal cavity and makes sure your food stays out of your nose yuck, thank you uvula. Many people attribute the uvula to their gag reflex. This is also true. A gag reflex is the contraction of the back of the throat, triggered by an object touching the back of your tongue, tonsils, back of your throat, and your uvula.

The gag reflex purpose it to prevent choking. The gag reflex is first and mainly used during infancy, and is supposed to help moderate the transition from liquid to solid foods. Once babies are about 6 months, their gag reflex disappears, and they are able to start eating solid foods. The gag reflex is only triggered in children and adults when an unusually large object is placed in the mouth. To confirm that the uvula is related to gagging and not just the other areas in the back of the mouth, another study was done.

A controlled, double blind experimental study on volunteers we all know what this means from class evaluated the gag reflex by using nitrous oxide to suppress experimentally induced gagging. Thankfully, epiglottitis has become increasingly rare since infants are now vaccinated against the bacterium that most often causes epiglottitis, Haemophilus influenzae type b Hib.

Furthermore, strep throat can cause uvulitis. Strep throat is a bacterial infection and can be treated with antibiotics. Finally, HPV may produce lesions on the uvula. HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Most sexually active people get HPV, but usually there are no symptoms and it goes away on its own. It can be spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

In rare cases, HPV can cause cancer of the uvula. To prevent HPV, boys and girls should be vaccinated at 11 or 12 years of age. Additionally, you can prevent contracting HPV by practicing safe sex. In fact, some people are born without uvulas.

That can be associated with a cleft palate. Also, certain countries in Africa ritually remove uvulas on toddlers or infants of both sexes. Additionally, doctors will remove the uvula in some cases of sleep apnea. You can live and function normally without a uvula.

However, a common complaint of people without uvulas is that they get dry mouth. People have been putting rings in their uvulas for the past 20 years. The uvula dangles in front of the tonsils. The tonsils are made of lymph tissue and can be seen at the back of the mouth. Andrew Oswari answered. Family Medicine 24 years experience. Back of the mouth: That thing having down in the back of your mouth is the uvula.

Hangin: The thing hanging down in the back of your mouth. Ask U. Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. For these, please consult a doctor virtually or in person. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call or your local emergency service. Ask your question Ask question Free. HealthTap doctors are based in the U.

Video chat with a U. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other abusable medications. Connect with a doctor now. Get help now: Ask doctors free Educational text. Similar questions A year-old member asked:. Arnold Malerman answered. Probably: If it's been crooked all your life, probably just a normal anatomic variation.

If this is a recent change, it deserves investigation Uvula bumps: Hello, lesions on the uvula could be normal islands of lymph tissue but they could also be viral wart like lesions. See your ENT doctor to be sure. Good luck.