Swallowing

Aka: Swallowing, Deglutition

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II. Definitions

  1. Swallowing (Deglutition)
    1. Act of clearing solids and liquids into the gastrointestinal tract via the pharynx and esophagus

III. Physiology

  1. Swallowing is complicated by food and drink sharing a common entry with air for breathing
    1. When disordered, aspiration food and liquid into airway may occur
  2. Swallowing requires complex coordination of voluntary and involuntary muscle contractions
    1. Oropharyngeal Stages
      1. Food bolus creation
        1. Food is chewed and mixed with Saliva until necessary consistency
      2. Food moves into posterior pharynx
        1. Food is propelled forward by Tongue
      3. Airway protection
        1. Larynx rises and glottis closes during Swallowing
        2. Epiglottis falls over the Larynx, directing food posteriorly into the esophagus
        3. Gag Reflex may induce Vomiting when stimulating the uvula and other posterior pharynx
        4. Cough expels aspirated matter that has bypassed other protective measures
    2. Esophageal Stages
      1. Esophageal entry
        1. Food bolus passes into the esophagus via the upper esophageal sphincter
      2. Esophageal transit
        1. Food bolus is propelled forward by esophageal peristalsis
      3. Stomach entry
        1. Food bolus passes through the lower esophageal sphincter into the Stomach

IV. Pathophysiology

  1. See Dysphagia

V. Exam

  1. See Dysphagia Exam

VI. References

  1. Shaw (2013) Otolaryngol Clin North Am 46(6): 937-56 [PubMed]
  2. Pitts (2014) Lung 192(1): 27-31 +PMID: 24297325 [PubMed]
    1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3920746/
  3. Wilkinson (2021) Am Fam Physician 103(2): 97-106 [PubMed]

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Related Studies

Ontology: Deglutition (C0011167)

Definition (ICF) Functions of clearing the food and drink through the oral cavity, pharynx and oesophagus into the stomach at an appropriate rate and speed.
Definition (ICF-CY) Functions of clearing the food and drink through the oral cavity, pharynx and oesophagus into the stomach at an appropriate rate and speed.
Definition (NCI) The act of passing something through the mouth and throat into the stomach.
Definition (MSH) The act of taking solids and liquids into the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT through the mouth and throat.
Concepts Organism Function (T040)
MSH D003679
SnomedCT 289091002, 54731003
LNC LP91352-2, MTHU029816
English Deglutition, Deglutitions, Swallowing, Swallowings, deglutition, swallowing, Deglutition, NOS, Swallowing, NOS, Deglutition (function), Deglutition (observable entity), Deglutition, function (observable entity)
Swedish Sväljning
Spanish tragar, deglución (entidad observable), deglución (función), deglución, Deglución
Czech polykání
Finnish Nieleminen
Russian GLOTANIE, ГЛОТАНИЕ
Japanese 嚥下, えん下, のみこみ, 飲込み
Croatian GUTANJE
Polish Połykanie
Norwegian Svelging
French Déglutition
German Hinunterschlucken, Schlucken
Italian Deglutizione
Dutch Slikken
Portuguese Deglutição
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

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