Editing Uvula (section)

==Structure==

===Muscle ===
{{Main articles|Musculus uvulae}}
The muscular part of the uvula ({{Langx|la|musculus uvulae}}) shortens and broadens the uvula. This changes the contour of the posterior part of the soft palate. This change in contour allows the soft palate to adapt closely to the posterior [[pharynx|pharyngeal]] wall to help close the [[Pharynx#Nasopharynx|nasopharynx]] during swallowing.<ref>Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck, Fehrenbach and Herring, Elsevier, 2012, page 108</ref>

Its muscles are controlled  by the [[pharyngeal branch of vagus nerve|pharyngeal branch]] of the [[vagus nerve]].

===Variation===
<!-- [[Bifurcated uvula]] redirects here -->
[[Image:Tanya Uvula.jpg|thumb|right|The bifid uvula of a 24-year-old woman]]
A bifid or [[wikt:bifurcation|bifurcated]] uvula is a split or cleft uvula. Newborns with [[cleft lip and palate|cleft palate]] often also have a split uvula. The bifid uvula results from incomplete fusion of the palatine shelves but it is considered only a slight form of clefting. Bifid uvulas have less muscle in them than a normal uvula, which may cause recurring problems with middle ear infections. While swallowing, the soft palate is pushed backwards, preventing 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 nasal cavity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://health.ivillage.com/dental/0,,6hlv,00.html |title=Split Uvula: Is It a Problem? |access-date=23 September 2007 |archive-date=14 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014220221/http://health.ivillage.com/dental/0,,6hlv,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Splitting of the uvula occurs infrequently but is the most common form of mouth and nose area cleavage among newborns. Bifid uvula occurs in about 2% of the general population,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/expert.q.a/04/12/bifid.uvula.shu/index.html | title=Will a bifid uvula cause any problems? | publisher=[[CNN]] | first=Jennifer | last=Shu, M.D. | date=April 12, 2010 | access-date=2010-08-07}}</ref> although some populations may have a high incidence, such as [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] who have a 10% rate.<ref>{{cite book | title=Oski's pediatrics: principles & practice | first=Julia A. | last=McMillan |author2=Feigin, Ralph D. |author3=DeAngelis, Catherine |author4= Jones, M. Douglas | edition=4th | publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins | year=2006 | isbn=978-0-7817-3894-1 | page=469 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VbjFQiz8aR0C&q=bifid+uvula+native+americans&pg=RA1-PA469}}</ref>

Bifid uvula is a common symptom of the rare genetic syndrome [[Loeys–Dietz syndrome]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.loeysdietz.org/medical.php |title=Loeys-Dietz Syndrom Foundation |access-date=25 March 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805012226/http://www.loeysdietz.org/medical.php |archive-date=5 August 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which is associated with an increased risk of aortic aneurysm.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Bifid Uvula and Aortic Aneurysm |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |volume=359 |issue=2 |pages=e2 |doi=10.1056/NEJMicm070582 |pmid=18614778 |year=2008 |last1=Vilacosta |first1=Isidre |last2=Godoy |first2=Victoria Cañadas }}</ref>