Editing Uvula (section)

==Function==
During swallowing, the soft palate and the uvula move together to close off the [[nasopharynx]], and prevent food from entering the [[nasal cavity]].

It has also been proposed that the abundant amount of thin saliva produced by the uvula serves to keep the throat well lubricated.<ref name= Nadig/>

It has a function in speech as well. In many languages, a range of consonant sounds, known as [[uvular consonant]]s, are articulated by creating a constriction of airflow between the uvula and the back of the tongue. The [[voiced uvular trill]], written {{IPA|[ʀ]}} in the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]], is one example; it is used in [[French language|French]], [[Arabic]] and [[Hebrew]], among other languages. It has been suggested that the uvula is an accessory speech organ.<ref name="UvulaOrigin"/>

Stimulation of the uvula also causes the [[gag reflex]] to initiate. This is often a problem for people with [[uvula piercing]]s, and a common method of inducing vomiting.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}}
It also acts as a food sensor/guard that aids in breathing between mouthfuls, stopping small pieces of food from being inhaled, leading to choking.