24 



TEE FUNCTIONS OF TEE UVULA. 



under observation, so that the image was reflected back to my eye very dis- 

 tinctly. In this way I was enabled to inspect the upper or posterior sur- 

 face of the soft palate, and the prominence or ridge on it that the azygos 

 uvulffi forms (Fig. 2, Az-Pr.),the base of the tongue (T), the epiglottis (Ep), 

 and the contents of the larynx, at the time of the attempted phonation of 

 the sound "ge" with the mouth closed. 



My observations on this patient were continued for a period of five 

 weeks. Subsequently, I made numerous observations of a similar character 

 on six other patients, each of whom had lost the septum nasi, but had per- 

 fect soft palates. 



From notes that were taken at the time of these inspections — about sev- 

 enty-five in number — I will state what part, in my judgment, the soft palate, 

 the uvula and the azygos prominence (Fig. 2, Az-Pr, and Fig. 3) take in the 

 acts of mastication and deglutition, and what were their positions at the 

 time of the phonation of such simple sounds, as show enough of their ac- 



^tjr-^ 



FIG. 2. View of the posterior naaal passages, the posterior surface of the soft palate and base of the 

 tongue ; PtN. posterior nares ; E. t. Eustachian tubes ; Az-Pr. azygos prominence, on the upper surface of 

 the soft palate formed by the azygos uvulse muscles ; S-1. Semi-lunar openings formed by the tongue, uvula 

 and soft palate ; T. base of tongue ; Ep. epiglottis ; U. uvula. 



tion to demonstrate their apparent function ; reserving for the near future, 

 the details concerning the position of these three organs as well as that of 

 the base of the tongue and the epiglottis during the phonation of specified 

 sounds. 



Although I know now that the uvula and azygos prominence (Figs. 2 

 and 3) are not required to aid the acts of mastication and deglutition, yet I 

 will give the results of the inspections while these processes were going on, 

 because these results contain points of interest when taken in connection 

 with phonation. 



During mastication the whole free border of the soft palate rested on the 

 base of the tongue, reaching within a short distance of the epiglottis. In 

 five of the cases, the uvula was not in sight at any time, and seemed to be 

 doubled under the velum, so as to lie between it and the tongue (Fig. 4). 



