Swallowing


  • Stimulation of glossopharyngeal (IX) nerve as food/drink/etc. moved into oropharynx
  • initiated by using tongue to pass bolus to oropharynx,
  • afferent information from glossopharyngeal (CN IX) cause reflex to begin
  • Triggers peristaltic wave downwards through oesophagus to stomach

Muscles

  • Tongue
  • Floor of mouth
  • Strap Muscles
  • Pharynx
  • Larynx

Actions

  • soft palate raised, closing nasopharaynx
  • strap muscles raise larynx,
  • this action combined with tightening of muscles around epiglottis causes epiglottis to close larynx
  • narrow entrance to larynx
  • close glottis
  • bolus then passed through pharynx
  • peristaltic wave initiated in pharynx carries food from pharynx through oesophagus to stomach
 

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