Final answer:
The name of the 'hangy down' thing located at the back of our mouth is the uvula. It helps prevent foods and liquids from entering the nasal cavity when we swallow.
Step-by-step explanation:
The name of the 'hangy down' thing located at the back of our mouth is the uvula.
Although some have suggested that the uvula is a vestigial organ, it serves an important purpose. When you swallow, the soft palate and uvula move upward, helping to keep foods and liquid from entering the nasal cavity. The uvula can also contribute to the sound produced by snoring.
The uvula is a fleshy bead of tissue that drops down from the center of the posterior edge of the soft palate. It is located between two muscular folds called the palatoglossal arch and the palatopharyngeal arch.