What Does the Uvula Do?
3. Swallowing
When we swallow, our tongue and mouth muscles will move to force our food towards the back of the throat. The food is then pushed down through the esophagus where it will eventually reach the stomach. It is very important that the food goes to the right place, and the uvula may help in this regard.
A lot of people believe that the uvula helps by blocking the nasal cavity as our food is swallowed. This helps to ensure that the food goes to where it is needed, rather than to where it is not. Mealtimes might be a much more complicated affair without it.
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