Abstract

MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATIONS OF UVULA: A CLINICAL STUDY BASED ON CHENNAI POPULATION

Dr. Saraswathi Gopal and *Dr. Anitha Raghunathan

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of this short study is to highlight a series of cases of wide range of uvular deformities ranging from bifid uvula to absence of uvula. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of a total number of 593 patients who reported to the department of Oral Medicine and Radiology (within the period of June 2015 to September 2015) who were examined for morphology, position and functional movements of uvula. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients out of the total 593 patients demonstrated some degree of uvula bifurcation. CONCLUSION: Disorders of the palatal uvula is one of the least highlighted areas of medical literature, inspite the fact that uvula is a key organ in functions like speech, deglutition and mastication. Thus this study highlights the importance of monitoring such deformities.

Keywords: Uvula, key organ, speech, mastication.