THE FUNCTIONS OF THE UVULA. 2& 



Two patients had elongated uvulas, which, sometimes, hung down on the 

 base of the tongue, and frequently touched the epiglottis. The uvula was 

 always contracted; the evidence of this condition was the increased height 



FIG. 3. The image, seen on the hinged reflector (R), of the lower edge of the soft palate and the lower 

 or posterior concave surface of the uvula (U), showing, also, the higher semi-lunar shaped openings (S-1) 

 made by the azygos prominence touching the posterior waU of the pharynx. 



of the azygos prominence, formed hy the contracted azygos uvulae (Fig. 2, 

 Az-Pr). 



During the act of deglutition, the soft palate was pushed backward by 

 the alimentary bolus until the posterior wall of the pharynx was reached^ 

 the motion was continued in an upward direction until the upper surface of 

 the velum was high enough to cover and close both Eustachian tubes (Fig. 

 1, S. P. E. t.), pushing the reflector (E) upward and forward; then the velum 

 descended, as the alimentary bolus was swallowed, until its lower border 

 touched the base of the tongue. 



When I began to make observations, my attention was directed to the 

 uvula alone; but the varying height of the azygos prominences during vo- 

 calization (Fig. 2, Az-Pr.) in this, my first patient, drew my attention to it, 

 and what I discovered with respect to it, was confirmed in the subsequent 



