Question

Uvula can close the opening of?

Answer 1

Hint: Uvula is a soft palate of muscular tissue that is located at the back of the throat. You can clearly see the uvula when you open your mouth. As you breathe, you can see the upward and downward movement of the uvula. The uvula guards the opening of the food pipe (oesophagus) and the airway.

Complete answer:
A diagram of uvula is depicted below:

The uvula is also known as palatine uvula. The uvula has a very important function. Uvula blocks the larynx or the opening of the respiratory tract in the throat when we are swallowing food or water, thus preventing entry and blockage of airways by the food particles. It also prevents entry of food into the nasal tract.
The uvula also secretes large volumes of saliva and is believed to have a role in immunology, although this belief has not been confirmed yet.

Note:
One might have heard the term ‘snoring’. This is a peculiar sound that is produced involuntarily by many people when they are in deep sleep. During sleep, the vocal cords present in the larynx along with the muscular folds of the uvula are in a relaxed state. When we exhale, these vocal cords and the soft bulb-like structure of the uvula vibrate, thus producing such sounds. This is not a natural phenomenon but also not a serious ailment. Snoring becomes evident with age as the muscle becomes loose. Reduced tension in the muscles of the uvula may also result in choking.