The dangling thing in the back of your throat is called the uvula. It is a fleshy teardrop-shaped piece of tissue that hangs at the end of your soft palate near your throat or pharynx. The uvula has several functions, including:
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Secreting saliva: The uvula secretes large amounts of saliva that keep your throat moist and lubricated.
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Preventing choking: The uvula is part of your gag reflex. When something touches this area of your soft palate, it could induce gagging or vomiting. If your uvula senses that something is going down the “wrong way,” it course corrects in an effort to avoid choking.
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Directing food and water into your throat: The uvula helps direct food and water into your throat when you swallow.
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Stopping your soft palate from being forced into your mouth when you cough or sneeze: The uvula helps stop your soft palate from being forced into your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
If the uvula becomes swollen or inflamed, it can cause a sore throat, redness, trouble breathing or talking, or a choking feeling. This condition is called uvulitis and can result from an infection, an allergy, an injury, or exposure to irritants like smoke.
