A member asked:

When our mouth is closed from uvula till epiglottis does our upper palate touches the lower palate or any skin of upper palate touches the lower palat?

4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Paul Grin answered

Specializes in Pain Management

Normally not: In normal anatomical and physiological condition it is not supposed to touch the base of our tongue. Enlargement or swelling of the uvula is known as uvulitis, which can be caused by several factors: dehydration, infections, allergies, obstructive sleep apnea, etc. Uvulitis is not a serious medical condition, and most of the time it can be treated at home.

Answered 6/3/2014

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Varies: Since people have sometimes quite variable anatomy, an index called the Mallampati score helps quantify pharygeal space. A rating of class III or IV is predictive of difficulty being intubated as well as tendency for sleep apnea. The lower classes probably will not contribute as much to airway occlusion but the higher classes suggest vigilance for issues relating to the airway being blocked.

Answered 3/11/2018

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