Swallowing Process PDF

Phases of Swallowing Voluntary Mastication lea During this This keeps The duration Following Phase ds to a bolus of stage the the food of this stage this, food being back of the within the varies. inspiration is...

Phases of Swallowing Voluntary Mastication lea During this This keeps The duration Following Phase ds to a bolus of stage the the food of this stage this, food being back of the within the varies. inspiration is produced. tongue is oral cavity inhibited and elevated and and allows the bolus of the soft the airway to food is palate pulled remain open. moved to anteriorly the pharynx against it. by the tongue. This leads to the stimulation of the swallowing  This signals the swallowing Once the bolus has been centre in the brain moved to the pharynx, stem which: Pharyngeal Phase pressure receptors are Inhibits respiration activated in the palate and Raises the larynx anterior pharynx. Closes the glottis Opens the upper oesophageal sphincter The soft palate is elevated Gravity makes very little After this, the bolus is to close contribution to this process moved towards the the nasopharynx to allow and the main factors oesophagus via peristalsis passage of food. In addition affecting the speed of this of the pharyngeal to this, the true vocal cords are the viscosity and constrictor muscles. close to prevent aspiration. volume of the bolus.  The bolus is moved down the oesophagus The upper At the beginning via peristal The bolus is third of the of this phase, the sis, which is propelled at oesophagus larynx lowers, coordinated a rate of is voluntary returning to its by extrinsic around 3-5 skeletal normal position. nerves. Each cm per Oesophage muscle and The cricopharyn area of second and al Phase the lower geus muscle then muscle so the transit two thirds contracts to systematicall time to the are prevent reflux and y relaxes to stomach involuntary respiration begins allow food takes around smooth again. through and 9 seconds. muscle. contracts afterwards to propel it further. Dysphagia is the term for difficulty swallowing. It can affect swallowing of both solid and liquid substances depending on the cause. In addition to this, it can be due to motility problems (an error of peristalsis) or obstruction of the tube. Common causes include:  Stroke  Alzheimer’s disease  Tumours  Xerostomia  Oesophageal strictures  Hiatus hernia The presence of dysphagia is typically identified via a barium swallow study and then further tests, such as CT scans. The treatment can include swallowing therapy, dietary changes, surgery or in extreme cases nasogastric tubes. Complications of dysphagia can include aspiration, dehydration and weight loss.