Uvula of palate

At a glance

English

Uvula of palate

Latin (TA2)

Uvula palatina

System

Digestive

Region

Whole body

Side

Single, on the midline

About the uvula of palate

The uvula is the visible teardrop that dangles in the midline at the back of the mouth. It forms the central point of the free margin of the soft palate, with the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches curving away from it on each side. When the mouth is opened wide it can be seen above the back of the tongue, and its position is a quick guide to whether the palate is moving evenly.

Its core is a small paired muscle, the musculus uvulae, which arises from the posterior nasal spine and the palatine aponeurosis and runs back into the uvula. Around it is loose connective tissue with many glands, mostly mucous, though serous glands are present too. A covering of mucous membrane, with stratified squamous epithelium on its exposed surface, makes it continuous with the rest of the palate.

When the soft palate rises in swallowing, the uvular muscle shortens and broadens the uvula and thickens the back of the palate. This bulk helps the palate press firmly against the back wall of the pharynx, so that the nasopharynx is sealed and food and liquid are kept out of the nose. The glands in it moisten the throat. It also takes part in speech: several languages use the uvula to produce consonants, such as the rolled r of French. Touching it, or the nearby palate and pharyngeal wall, sets off the gag reflex.

The uvula is a useful bedside sign of nerve function. The musculus uvulae is supplied through the pharyngeal plexus by the vagus. If one vagus nerve is damaged, the palate on that side does not lift and the uvula is drawn towards the intact side when the patient says 'ah'. A split (bifid) uvula can be a hint of a hidden cleft in the palate. Swelling of the uvula from allergy or infection may cause a choking sensation, and a long uvula can add to snoring.

Function and supply

Function

Thickens the back of the soft palate during swallowing to help seal the nasopharynx; contributes to some speech sounds and moistens the throat.

Nerve supply

Motor through the pharyngeal plexus from the vagus nerve; sensory fibres from the lesser palatine nerves.

Blood supply

Branches of the lesser palatine arteries and the ascending palatine artery.