# What would happen if your uvula were cut off? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2010, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723 "2010-04-11T11:25:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/1 "2010-04-11T11:25:21Z")
Would food go up your nose more easily? Would coughing or sneezing be different? Would breathing be affected? ---
**Author:** ![simple\_homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@simple\_homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simple_homer)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/2 "2010-04-11T11:39:21Z")
My uvula was removed during a UPPP surgery for sleep apnea. > **[Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty)** > > Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (also known by the abbreviations UPPP and UP3) is a surgical procedure or sleep surgery used to remove tissue and/or remodel tissue in the throat. This could be because of sleep issues. Tissues which may typically be removed include: > Tissues which may typically be remodeled include: > UPPP involves removal of the tonsils, the posterior surface of the soft palate, and the uvula. The uvula is then folded toward the soft palate and sutured together as demonstrated in the fi... Other than helping with my sleep apnea for a few years, the removal of my uvula has not had any impact on my life. Btw, I am among the majority of people that a UPPP surgery did not help for the long term. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/3 "2010-04-11T12:30:16Z")
I had mine removed during major reconstructive surgery in my nose and throat for sleep apnea as well about 6 years ago. The removal of the uvula part is called uvuloplasty and it is a major surgery by itself and recovery is a big deal especially when combined with the other surgeries they usually do at the same time. It is supposed to take 2 weeks to a month to recover from it but I was mobile and able to eat in about 3 days. It didn’t cure sleep apnea 100% for me either but it did help and I don’t regret it. There isn’t any real downside to not having a uvula although it seems easier to stick your finger down your throat without gagging. The decision to remove it shouldn’t be taken lightly but, after recovery, it is an invisible repair and doesn’t cause any problems or warrant much notice. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/4 "2010-04-11T14:04:41Z")
Why do we have a uvula then? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/5 "2010-04-11T14:16:27Z")
I’ve known a couple people who’ve had their uvulas removed for sleep apnea. It caused a very, very slight change in their voice which not everyone perceived, and they slept better. Other than that, I got nuthin’ ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/6 "2010-04-11T14:28:32Z")
I kept my uvula and got a CPAP machine instead. It has its own problems, but on balance, probably the right move. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/7 "2010-04-11T15:00:03Z")
When a doctor uses a laser to burn away your uvula, it raises a cloud of thick black smoke that smells exactly like barbecue. Which I thought was neat, but the doctor had no sense of humor. (For the record, if an operation doesn’t cure your problem don’t go in afterward and say “the operation was a success but the patient died.”) Delicious charred meat smells were the only thing I took away from the operation, which also removed part of the palate, making it a uvulopalatoplasty. Did it help my sleep apnea? Not a bit. So why was it recommended? Because it was lasers, baby! Lasers are cool! Hi-tech! There isn’t a doctor alive who doesn’t want to burn away parts of your body with a laser! Go ahead, ask them. (But find one with a sense of humor first.) ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/8 "2010-04-11T15:23:47Z")
I had my uvula removed during my tonsillectomy last year. It was fairly large and would often get irritated and inflamed. I’m glad it’s gone, but during recovery it was the part of my throat that was most painful when I swallowed. ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/9 "2010-04-12T18:58:28Z")
There are times I’d love to get rid of my uvula. Usually after a night of drinking where I pass out face up, and the snoring absolutely _destroys_ the thing. I get to spend the next 24 hours or so with a swollen uvula (to those who’ve never had the pleasure: imagine a dangling finger-sized thing in the back of your throat that you can bring halfway up the back of your tongue. And it hurts. A lot). ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/10 "2010-04-12T19:26:48Z")
> [@davekhps](#): > > There are times I’d love to get rid of my uvula. Usually after a night of drinking where I pass out face up, and the snoring absolutely _destroys_ the thing. I get to spend the next 24 hours or so with a swollen uvula (to those who’ve never had the pleasure: imagine a dangling finger-sized thing in the back of your throat that you can bring halfway up the back of your tongue. And it hurts. A lot). you’re the only other person i’ve heard of that this happens to. At last i’m not alone. choking on your uvula is not fun ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/11 "2010-04-12T20:06:11Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Why do we have a uvula then? Because it doesn’t kill us before we reproduce? I’ve never heard any benefit attributed to the little sucker. It gives kids something to ask about, though. What is that thing. . . . ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/12 "2010-04-12T21:19:45Z")
Lots of languages have uvular consonants, such as the French r and the Irish gh. I imagine the lack of a uvula could give rise to a speech impediment in those languages. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/13 "2010-04-13T07:59:11Z")
> [@davekhps](#): > > There are times I’d love to get rid of my uvula. Usually after a night of drinking where I pass out face up, and the snoring absolutely _destroys_ the thing. I get to spend the next 24 hours or so with a swollen uvula (to those who’ve never had the pleasure: imagine a dangling finger-sized thing in the back of your throat that you can bring halfway up the back of your tongue. And it hurts. A lot). I’ve never had a swollen uvula, that I can think of, but I often get a swollen soft palate when I get nasal congestion and have to sleep with my mouth open. Which also results in your uvula dangling waaaaaay lower than it should be. For me it doesn’t hurt (unless I already have a sore throat), it’s just in the way and gag-inducing. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/14 "2010-04-13T08:07:39Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > Lots of languages have uvular consonants, such as the French r and the Irish gh. I imagine the lack of a uvula could give rise to a speech impediment in those languages. Yes, but that does not explain why a uvula would have evolved. If we didn’t have one then the French and Irish languages (and any others that depend on the uvula) would simply not have evolved to use those sounds. Other languages (English, presumably, for one) seem to get by perfectly well without them. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/15 "2010-04-13T08:10:17Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > There isn’t any real downside to not having a uvula although it seems easier to stick your finger down your throat without gagging. … all women should have their uvulas removed. And to everyone who is asking why we have one- isn’t it obvious? It helps with our gag reflex. Which I’m pretty sure is important to a species. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/16 "2010-04-13T08:47:28Z")
> [@bryanmaguire](#): > > … At last i’m not alone. … No, you’re not! ☹ CMC fnord! Snorer and sleep apnea sufferer, 89.5 [AHI](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apnea-hypopnea_index) pre-CPAP. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/17 "2010-04-13T11:17:08Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Why do we have a uvula then? > [@Yllaria](#): > > Because it doesn’t kill us before we reproduce? > > I’ve never heard any benefit attributed to the little sucker. It gives kids something to ask about, though. What is that thing. . . . Really? because it does have an important benefit and 2 uses in language. [ > [@](#): > > **The main uvula function is to prevent food going through the breathing passage while you swallow.** > The uvula function also involves, articulation of your voice to form sounds of speech. > The uvula functions along with the back of the throat, palate, and air coming up from the lungs to produce a gruffy and other sounds. …bolding mine. [URL=“[www.buzzle.com/articles/uvula-function.html](http://www.buzzle.com/articles/uvula-function.html)”]Cite]([http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/www.buzzle.com/articles/uvula-function.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/www.buzzle.com/articles/uvula-function.html)) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/18 "2010-04-13T12:59:47Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Why do we have a uvula then? [To pierce?](http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Uvula_piercing) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/19 "2010-04-13T15:32:43Z")
[It’ll behoove ya’, to care for your uvula!](http://snltranscripts.jt.org/75/75vuvula.phtml) ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723/20 "2010-04-13T18:16:16Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Yes, but that does not explain why a uvula would have evolved. If we didn’t have one then the French and Irish languages (and any others that depend on the uvula) would simply not have evolved to use those sounds. Other languages (English, presumably, for one) seem to get by perfectly well without them. True. I was posting in reply to the question in the title and the OP: “What would happen if your uvula were cut off?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-your-uvula-were-cut-off/535723.md?page=2)