Final answer:
The uvula is the dangling process that helps keep food out of the nasopharynx, situated at the apex of the soft palate and moves with it during swallowing to prevent ingested material from entering the nasal cavity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dangling process that aids in keeping food out of the nasopharynx is known as the uvula. This small bulbous, teardrop-shaped structure is located at the apex of the soft palate, and during swallowing, both the soft palate and uvula move upward. This action helps prevent food and liquid from entering the nasal cavity. The uvula is accompanied by the palatoglossal arch toward the front, the palatopharyngeal arch behind it, and the palatine tonsils, which are clusters of lymphoid tissue that protect the pharynx, between these two arches.