Dangly thing in mouth?

[danroll]

what is the name given to the little dangly thing at the back of the mouth? does it actually have a purpose?

[cascarelli]

Yes dear

[zipadeedodah]

4getmenot - the tonsils are at the sides! I always sued to think the dangly thing was tonsils though!

Have a look at this danroll - explains a little:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uvula

It's mainly to help with speech, and is particularly used in other languages. You learn something new everyday!

[andy-hughes]

I had mine removed, along with my tonsils and about half my soft palatte about six years ago, to cure sleep aponea.

The only result I notice is that food and liquid wil slip down involutarily much more easily, so I have learned to control my gag reflex very well. It does mean i can swallow tablets really easily, a problem I always had before because I was born with enlarged tonsils.

Oh, and I can't make 'snorting' noises anymore, but that surprisingly has been no social handicap at all.

[PinkFizz]

I just knew that this question would attract all the smutty ABer's!! Erm....not me tho....ahem!

[China Doll]

Only cause you arrived too late Pinky and you know it! ;0P

[PinkFizz]

Who moi?? ; 0 )

[4getmenot]

ah see thats why I was confused coz I know someone that had the dangly bit removed and so I thought it was tonsils :-)

[PinkFizz]

Easy mistake knotty! I thought that dangly thing was the tonsils as well!

[4getmenot]

I waited to see answers before I put tonsils :-)

[Champagne]

You're right Morello, the epiglottis is located further back in your throat and it's there to stop food/drink going into your windpipe.

[welshwil]

excellent 29 answers before a tidy answer. keep up the good work