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Introduction: Investigators have been interested in the structure and function of the uvula for centuries. Some of them emphasized its influence on the tone of voice, others its immunological role. Since the times of Hippocrates, people have been afraid of the uvula oedema, as it could lead to apnea and death. It was also suspected that upper airway diseases originated from the uvula. That's why excision of the uvula has been a common practice in folk medicine carried out as a ritual act in the North Africa and Middle East for many centuries up to now. Nowadays Evidence Based Medicine recommends uvulectomy as a part of surgical treatement in any form of sleep related obstructive breathing disorders. The aim of this study was to present the specific function of the uvula and draw the practical conclusions concerning uvulopalatopharyngoplasty., Material and Methods: Histological analysis of the uvula and soft palate samples obtained by UPPP from 37 adults suffering from moderate OSAS was performed., Results: This investigation revealed that the uvula contained significantly more salivary glands with predominant serous type in comparison with the palatine arches tissue. Glandular follicles were composed of the pyramid-shaped epithelial cells lying on the basement membrane. Between these there were myoepithelial cells which pushed serous secretion to the excretory ducts., Conclusions: Histologically unique structure of the uvula, when compared with other parts of the soft palate, suggests that the uvula plays a very important role in moistening the oropharyngeal mucosa. Since the feeling of dryness in the throat is one of the most frequent complaints after UPPP, the modification of the standard operative technique in order to preserve the uvula, should be considered.

Histology of the soft palate and uvula in snorers and patients with OSA syndrome has been a subject of investigation of many authors. In majority of specimens the hypertrophy of the salivary glands as well as congestion and dilation of the thin-walled vessels were observed. Some of the samples presented atrophy of the muscle bundles. Also, the inflammatory changes as lymphocytic infiltrations were proven. In each case adults served as a control group. In this study the histologic analysis of the soft palate and uvula samples from patients suffering from snoring and OSA syndrome was performed. The uvula samples from the newborn who died on the first day of their lives were chosen as a control group. The choice of such a group excluded the influence of vibration force on the soft palate structure. Comparisons among the groups were made by Fisher exact two-tailed test. The muscular atrophy was observed only in patients with airway disturbances. No case of neonatal tissue sample with this pathology was found. Less dilation and congestion of the blood vessels were observed in the newborn group. Significantly more frequent superficial salivary glands localized between the muscle bundles and epithelium were found in the OSA and snoring patients. Our results showed distinct differences between the tissues of the patients with airway disturbances and the control group. These differences may be caused by the influence of the vibration on the soft palate and uvula, but on the other hand they may be the reason for excessive flaccidity of these structures and disturbances occurring during sleep.

In the years 1996-1999 in the Department of Otolaryngology of Medical Academy in Warsaw 58 patients with respiratory disorders during sleep were treated using uvulopalatoplasty in 35 cases and laser uvulopalatoplasty in 23 cases. The authors describes operation technique, qualification criteria and results assessed on the basis of basic values of polysomnographic study as well as subjective feelings of patients.

A case of rhabdomyosarcoma embrionale uvulae in 5 years old girl was described. The child was treated at the beginning surgically, then chemotherapy was given according to schema IRS-III. After 2 years observation the child is in a good condition.