• Question: Why do we have a uvula in the back of our throught

    Asked by Cheese sandwich123 to Carolyn, Peter, Richard, Sara, Siana on 13 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Richard Unwin

      Richard Unwin answered on 13 Nov 2015:

      Hi Cheese. Great Question!
      The Uvula is that bit that dangles down at the back of your throat. Nobody knows what it does, although it’s thought that it may help guide food down your throat, or be a first line of defence against choking if you swallow something too hard or too big, as touching it will make you gag. (I saw a comedian once call it ‘God’s sick trigger’, which I quite like!). Some people also think it may help us to make certain sounds when you speak.

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