Why do things touching the uvula cause gagging unless it’s your tongue, food, or liquid?
In: Biology
The uvulas function in your body is to move together with your soft palette during swallowing to close off the nasopharynx so that it doesn’t go into your nasal cavity instead. Stimulation caused by anything other than proper swallowing triggers the gag reflex.
I’m no scientist, but I would say that it’s because your body knows that a tongue, food, or liquid is supposed to touch your uvula, but something like a toothbrush or your finger shouldn’t
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