What Do Tonsils Do?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
4. Uvula
The uvula is the piece of loose flesh that you can clearly see hanging down from the top of the mouth at the back of the throat. This is sometimes mistaken for the tonsils to those that are not aware, but the uvula performs a very different function.
One of the main functions of the uvula is to help close off the nasopharynx when eating and drinking to help prevent food and drink going into the nasal canal. It also helps to produce saliva that helps with chewing and swallowing, among other things, and it is also used quite a lot when talking in some languages.
Advertisement
