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Swallowing
Aka: Swallowing, Deglutition
- See Also
- Dysphagia
- Definitions
- Swallowing (Deglutition)
- Act of clearing solids and liquids into the Gastrointestinal Tract via the pharynx and esophagus
- Physiology
- Swallowing is complicated by food and drink sharing a common entry with air for breathing
- When disordered, aspiration food and liquid into airway may occur
- Swallowing requires complex coordination of voluntary and involuntary Muscle Contractions
- Oropharyngeal Stages
- Food bolus creation
- Food is chewed and mixed with Saliva until necessary consistency
- Food moves into posterior pharynx
- Food is propelled forward by Tongue
- Airway protection
- Larynx rises and glottis closes during Swallowing
- Epiglottis falls over the Larynx, directing food posteriorly into the esophagus
- Gag Reflex may induce Vomiting when stimulating the uvula and other posterior pharynx
- Cough expels aspirated matter that has bypassed other protective measures
- Esophageal Stages
- Esophageal entry
- Food bolus passes into the esophagus via the upper esophageal sphincter
- Esophageal transit
- Food bolus is propelled forward by esophageal peristalsis
- Stomach entry
- Food bolus passes through the lower esophageal sphincter into the Stomach
- Pathophysiology
- See Dysphagia
- Exam
- See Dysphagia Exam
- References
- Shaw (2013) Otolaryngol Clin North Am 46(6): 937-56 [PubMed]
- Pitts (2014) Lung 192(1): 27-31 +PMID: 24297325 [PubMed]
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3920746/
- Wilkinson (2021) Am Fam Physician 103(2): 97-106 [PubMed]