Diagram showing the uvula, tonsils, soft palate, and tongue

Uvula without tonsils (after tonsillectomy)

The uvula (IPA: [ˈjuːvjʊlə]) is a small, mucosa-covered set of muscles, musculus uvulae, hanging down from the soft palate, near the back of the throat. The word is derived from the diminutive of uva, the Latin word for "grape", due to the uvula's grape-like shape. Image File history File links Tonsils_diagram. ... The Palatine tonsils with the soft palate, uvula, and tongue visible. ... The soft palate, or velum, is the soft tissue comprising the back of the roof of the mouth. ... A human tongue The tongue is the large bundle of skeletal muscles on the floor of the mouth that manipulates food for chewing and swallowing, (deglutition). ... Image File history File links Uvula_without_tonsils. ... Image File history File links Uvula_without_tonsils. ... A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure, during which the tonsils are removed. ... For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words see here. ... The Musculus uvulæ (Azygos uvulæ) arises from the posterior nasal spine of the palatine bones and from the palatine aponeurosis; it descends to be inserted into the uvula. ... The soft palate, or velum, is the soft tissue comprising the back of the roof of the mouth. ... Anatomy In anatomy, the throat is the part of the neck anterior to the vertebral column. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ...

The uvula plays an important role in the articulation of the sound of the human voice to form the sounds of speech. It functions in tandem with the back of the throat, the palate, and air coming up from the lungs to create a number of guttural and other sounds. Consonants pronounced with the uvula are not found in English; however, languages such as Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Ubykh, and Hmong use uvular consonants to varying degrees. Certain African languages use the uvula to produce click consonants as well. In English (as well as many other languages), it closes to prevent air escaping through the nose when making some sounds, such as /b/. Human voice consists of sound made by a person using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, screaming or crying. ... AIR is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below: The Annals of Improbable Research, a monthly magazine devoted to scientific humour All India Radio - Indias Government Radio service AIR, a popular electronica band from France. ... The heart and lungs (from an older edition of Grays Anatomy) The lung is an organ belonging to the respiratory system and interfacing to the circulatory system of air-breathing vertebrates. ... In articulatory phonetics, the term guttural consonant is sometimes used to describe any of several consonantal speech sounds whose primary place of articulation is near the back of the oral cavity, and include some velar consonants, uvular consonants, pharyngeal consonants, and epiglottal consonants. ... In articulatory phonetics, a consonant is a sound in spoken language that is characterized by a closure or stricture of the vocal tract sufficient to cause audible turbulence. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Arabic language ( ), or simply Arabic ( ), is the largest member of the Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family (classification: South Central Semitic) and is closely related to Hebrew, Amharic and Aramaic. ... Hebrew redirects here. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Hmong (Hmong: Hmoob) is a Hmong-Mien language spoken by the Hmong people native to Sichuan, northern Vietnam, Thailand, and Laos. ... Uvulars are consonants articulated with the back of the tongue against or near the uvula, that is, further back in the mouth than velar consonants. ... Map showing the distribution of African language families and some major African languages. ... Clicks are stops produced with two articulatory closures in the oral cavity. ...

In a small number of people, the uvula does not close properly against the back of the throat, causing a condition known as "velopharyngeal insufficiency" or VPI. This causes "nasal" (or more properly "hyper-nasal") speech, where a lot of extra air comes down the nose, and the speaker is unable to say certain consonants, for example producing the sound /b/ like /m/.

The uvula can also contribute to snoring or heavy breathing during sleep; having an elongated uvula can cause vibrations which lead to the snoring. In some cases this can lead to sleep apnea, which may be treated by removal of the uvula or part of the uvula if necessary, an operation known as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (commonly referred to as UPPP, or U3P). It should be noted, however, that this operation can also cause sleep apnea if scar tissue forms and the airspace in the velopharnyx is decreased. The success of UPPP as a treatment for sleep apnea is unknown, but some research has shown 40-60% effectiveness in reducing symptoms.^[1] Typically apnea subsides for the short term, but returns over the medium to long term, and sometimes is worse than it was before the UPPP. Snoring is the act of breathing through the open mouth in such a way as to cause a vibration of the uvula and soft palate, thus giving rise to a sound which may vary from a soft noise to a loud unpleasant sound. ... Sleep apnea (alternatively sleep apnoea) is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. ... Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (also known by the abbreviation UPPP) is a procedure used to decrease or remove the sound of snoring in human beings during sleep. ... Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (also known by the abbreviation UPPP) is a procedure used to decrease or remove the sound of snoring in human beings during sleep. ...

If the uvula touched by a finger or other object, this will induce an unpleasant gagging sensation which is often followed by vomiting. This is how bulimics induce vomiting. Bulimia nervosa, more commonly known as bulimia, is an eating disorder. ...

During swallowing, the soft palate and the uvula move superiorly to close off the nasopharynx, preventing food from entering the nasal cavity. When this process fails, the result is called nasal regurgitation. It is common in people with VPI. The pharynx is the part of the digestive system of many animals immediately behind the mouth and in front of the esophagus. ...

Splitting of the uvula occurs infrequently but is the most common form of mouth and nose area cleavage among newborns (roughly 2% of infants have this bifid or split uvula). Newborns with cleft palate also have a split uvula.

Swollen Uvula - Uvulitis

Swollen Uvula without tonsils (after tonsillectomy)

At times, the mucous membrane around the uvula may swell, causing the uvula to expand 3-5 times its normal size. When the uvula touches the throat or tongue, it can cause sensations like gagging or choking, even though there is no foreign matter present. This can cause problems breathing, talking, and eating. Image File history File linksMetadata Swollenuvula. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Swollenuvula. ... A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure, during which the tonsils are removed. ... The mucous membranes (or mucosae; singular: mucosa) are linings of ectodermic origin, covered in epithelium, and are involved in absorption and secretion. ...

There are many theories about what causes the uvula to swell, including: 1) dehydration (from arid weather and/or alcohol); 2) excessive smoking or other inhaled irritants; 3) snoring; 4) allergic reaction; or 5) a viral or bacterial infection. Dehydration (hypohydration) is the removal of water (hydor in ancient Greek) from an object. ... Functional group of an alcohol molecule. ... Look up Smoking in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Snoring is the act of breathing through the open mouth in such a way as to cause a vibration of the uvula and soft palate, thus giving rise to a sound which may vary from a soft noise to a loud unpleasant sound. ... Pancreatitus can be caused by an Allergic Reaction to a food. ... Infection is also the title of an episode of the television series Babylon 5; see Infection (Babylon 5). ...

If the swelling is caused by dehydration, drink plenty of fluids. If the cause is a bacterial infection, gargling salt water may help. A swollen uvula is normally not life-threatening and subsides in a short time, typically within a day. However, it can also be a sign of other problems. If the swelling has not subsided within 8-12 hours, or if it is accompanied by other symptoms (such as fever or pain), it is best to see your health care provider. Gargling is a common method of cleansing the throat, especially if one has a sore throat or upper-respiratory virus or infection. ...

Bifid Uvula

A bifid uvula is a split or cleft uvula. This occurs in about 1% of caucasians and 10% of Native Americans. Bifid uvulas have less muscle in them than a normal uvula, this may cause recurring problems with middle ear infections. While swallowing, the soft palate is pushed backwards. This prevents food and drink from entering the nasal cavity, if the soft palate cannot touch the back of the throat while swallowing, food and drink can enter the the nasal cavity.[1]

Removal of part of Uvula prevent throat infections

In some parts of Africa, including Ethiopia and Eritrea, part of the uvula may be removed by a traditional healer to prevent throat infections. ^[2] In this case, the uvula may be noticeably shortened. It is not thought to contribute to VPI, except in cases where the tonsils have also been removed ^[3].

Uvula in popular culture

Cartoons and other displays or animations often feature the uvula when characters are shown with gaping mouths. Screaming or singing animations often show the uvula in a wiggling motion. In other cartoons, the uvula is depicted as a punching bag, and is hit by characters in a way similar to that of a speed bag (such as I Taw a Putty Tat). A cartoon is any of several forms of art, with varied meanings that evolved from one to another. ... Animation refers to the process in which each frame of a film or movie is produced individually, whether generated as a computer graphic, or by photographing a drawn image, or by repeatedly making small changes to a model (see claymation and stop motion), and then photographing the result. ... Animation is the filming a sequence of drawings or positions of models to create an illusion of movement. ... Categories: Stub | Exercise equipment | Boxing ... I Taw a Putty Tat is a short animated cartoon directed by Friz Freleng in which Sylvester the Cat awaits the arrival of new canary Tweety Bird after the previous house bird has mysteriously disappeared. ...

Bifid uvulas were featured as a part of Nickelodeon's 1994 animated series Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. Uvula (Latin for little grape) can refer to: palatine uvula (this is what is usually meant when no further description is given) uvula of urinary bladder Category: ... Nickelodeon (Nick for short, formerly called Pinwheel; launched April 1, 1979) is a cable TV network primarily for children and pre-teens, but also features shows aimed towards teenagers in TEENick. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... An animated series or cartoon series is a television series produced by means of animation. ... POOOOOOOOP!! Real Monsters was an American animated television series about adolescent monsters in training, developed by Klasky-Csupo for Nickelodeon. ...

In Cartoon Network's series Cow and Chicken the uvula is used along with the spleen to represent an unknown human organ. While the spleen is obviously mistaken for the spine, the uvula is most likely used because of its strange name. Cartoon Network is a cable television network created by Turner Broadcasting which primarily shows animated programming. ... Cow and Chicken is an American animated television series, created by David Feiss, first broadcast on the Cartoon Network from 1997 to 2001. ... The spleen is a ductless, vertebrate gland that is closely associated with the circulatory system, where it functions in the destruction of old red blood cells in holding a reservoir of blood. ... The vertebral column seen from the side Different regions (curvatures) of the vertebral column The vertebral column (backbone or spine) is a column of vertebrae situated in the dorsal aspect of the abdomen. ...

In an episode of The Andy Griffith Show, Deputy Barney Fife has learned this word, and recites a brief reference to the old Spiritual "All God's Chillun Got Wings"[2]: The Andy Griffith Show was an American television series that aired from 1960 to 1968. ... // Spirituals were often expressions of religious faith, although they may also have served as socio-political protests veiled as assimilation to white, American culture. ...

"I got a uvula, you got a uvula, all God's chillun got a uvula!"

It also features in a "Far Side" cartoon by Gary Larson entitiled "final page of the medical exam" where a person is depicted holding a question paper that reads "bonus question (50 points): what is the name of the dangly thing that hangs down in the back of our throats?" The Far Side is a popular one-panel syndicated comic created by Gary Larson. ... Gary Larson is the creator of The Far Side, a (sometimes subdivided) single panel comic strip which appeared in many newspapers for fourteen years until Larsons retirement January 1, 1995. ...

In Takashi Miikes Happiness of the Katakuris, a small monster runs away with a woman's uvula. Takashi Miike Takashi Miike ) (born August 24, 1960 in Yao, Osaka, Japan) is a highly prolific and controversial Japanese filmmaker. ... The Happiness of the Katakuris ) is a 2001 film directed by Takashi Miike, with screenplay by Kikumi Yamagishi. ...

The uvula is mistaken for a vulva as a gag in Monster House. Labeled picture of external human female reproductive anatomy. ... Monster House is a 2006 computer animated suspense film released on July 21, 2006. ...

The uvula was featured in an early Saturday Night Live comedy skit starring Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, and Laraine Newman. Saturday Night Live (SNL) is a weekly late night 90-minute American comedy-variety show based in New York City which has been broadcast by NBC nearly every Saturday night since its debut on October 11, 1975. ... Gilda Radners Live From New York LP cover Gilda Susan Radner (28 June 1946 – 20 May 1989) was an American comedian and actress, best known for her five years as part of the original cast of the NBC comedy series Saturday Night Live. ... Cornelius Crane Chase (born October 8, 1943 in New York City), also known as Chevy Chase, is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor. ... Laraine Newman (born March 2, 1952) is an American comedian and actress, from Los Angeles, California. ...

Uvula in fashion

Today, the uvula is one of many body parts that people pierce. However, uvula piercings are very dangerous compared to other forms of body piercing, as the risks involved include swelling, throat edema, choking, and other forms of uvular infection. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A uvula piercing is a body piercing through the uvula. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Edema (American English) or oedema (British English), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is swelling of any organ or tissue due to accumulation of excess lymph fluid, without an increase of the number of cells in the affected tissue. ...

Notes

1. ^ Lehnert, Paul (2005-08-03). Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea. Retrieved on 2006-10-26.
2. ^ http://www3.baylor.edu/~Charles_Kemp/ethiopian_refugees.htm
3. ^ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8133174&dopt=Abstract

2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 3 is the 215th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (216th in leap years), with 150 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ...

External links

• Neill O’Brien blog / homepage » Blog Archive » Swollen Uvula
• MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Uvulitis
• The riddle of the uvula - comments on the evolution of the uvula.