6 DOWN THE HATCH: THE MOUTH AND THROAT Flashcards
What incident did Isambard Kingdom Brunel experience in 1843?
He accidentally swallowed a gold half-sovereign coin
What was the primary concern for Brunel after swallowing the coin?
It could choke him
What is the term for the surgical procedure attempted by Sir Benjamin Brodie on Brunel?
Tracheotomy
What is the anatomical term for swallowing?
Deglutition
How many times do humans swallow on average per day?
About two thousand times
What role does the epiglottis play during swallowing?
It acts as a trapdoor to direct food and air
What is the Heimlich maneuver designed to do?
To expel a blockage from a choking victim
Who invented the Heimlich maneuver?
Dr. Henry Judah Heimlich
What was the original term used by the American Red Cross before changing it in 2006?
Heimlich maneuver
Who is considered the father of American bronchoesophagoscopy?
Chevalier Quixote Jackson
What did Chevalier Jackson collect during his career?
Imprudently ingested items
How many salivary glands are typically found in the human mouth?
Twelve
Approximately how much saliva does a typical adult secrete in a day?
A little less than one and a half quarts
What powerful painkiller was discovered in saliva?
Opiorphin
What percentage of saliva is composed of substances other than water?
0.5 percent
What enzyme in saliva begins to break down sugars in carbohydrates?
Amylase
True or False: Tonsils are part of the immune system and can be removed without major health consequences.
True
Fill in the blank: The anatomical term for the fleshy structures that stand on either side of the throat is _______.
Tonsils
What is the name of the structure that includes the tonsils?
Waldeyer’s tonsillar ring
True or False: The primary function of saliva is to act as a lubricant only.
False
What is the significance of the low position of the larynx in humans?
It allows for greater aptitude for speech but increases choking risk
What was found in Chevalier Jackson’s collection of ingested items?
A wristwatch, a crucifix, miniature binoculars, among others
What happens to adenoids as a person reaches adolescence?
They often shrink away to virtually nothing
What unique characteristic does the human swallowing mechanism have compared to other mammals?
Air and food travel down the same tunnel
Fill in the blank: The Heimlich maneuver involves giving a choking victim a series of sharp hugs at the _______.
Breastbone
What did Dr. Robert Haugen suggest about choking deaths?
They are more common than generally thought
What is the average time interval between swallows for a person?
Once every thirty seconds
What happens when the epiglottis fails to function correctly?
Choking can occur
What is the estimated number of choking deaths in the United States each year?
About five thousand
What did the American Red Cross stop using the term ‘Heimlich maneuver’ in favor of?
Abdominal thrusts
What is one of the primary enzymes in saliva that helps prevent cavities?
Lysozyme
What are proteins that speed up chemical reactions called?
Enzymes
Examples include amylase and ptyalin.
What happens to sugars in carbohydrates while chewing?
They begin to break down
This process is initiated by enzymes in saliva.
What do bacteria in the mouth do with liberated sugars?
They devour them and excrete acids
This can lead to cavities.
What is lysozyme?
An enzyme that attacks many invading pathogens
Discovered by Alexander Fleming.
Why do we produce very little saliva while we sleep?
It allows microbes to proliferate
This is why morning mouth can occur.
What can be found in exhalations in the morning that affects breath freshness?
Up to 150 different chemical compounds
Common compounds include methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide.
Who first studied bacterial colonies in the mouth?
Professor Joseph Appleton
He discovered that different areas of the mouth host different bacterial colonies.
How many species of bacteria have been found in human mouths?
About a thousand species
Typically, around two hundred species are present at any given time.
What are the three varieties of teeth?
- Blades (pointy)
- Cusps (spade-like)
- Basins (fossae)
These variations allow for different functions in chewing.
What is the hardest substance in the human body?
Enamel
It forms a thin layer on the outside of teeth and cannot be replaced if damaged.
What is dentin?
A mineralized tissue beneath the enamel
Dentin can renew itself.
How is bite force measured?
In newtons
A typical adult male can exert about four hundred newtons of force.
What is capsaicin?
The active ingredient in chili peppers
It activates pain receptors, causing a burning sensation.
What is the Scoville scale used for?
Measuring the heat of chili peppers
Developed by Wilbur Scoville.
What is the taste receptor responsible for umami?
Glutamate
Discovered by Kikunae Ikeda in the early 20th century.
What is fugu?
A Japanese delicacy made from puffer fish
It is highly toxic and must be prepared by trained chefs.
True or False: Taste receptors exist only in the mouth.
False
Taste receptors are also found in the gut, throat, heart, lungs, and testicles.
What are the basic tastes identified by the tongue?
- Sweet
- Salty
- Sour
- Bitter
- Umami
Some authorities suggest additional receptors for fat and metal.
What chemical compound is responsible for the cooling sensation in menthol?
Menthol
It activates similar pain receptors as those responding to heat.
What can prolonged consumption of capsaicin lead to in the body?
Release of endorphins
This can produce a feeling of pleasure.
What is the annual death toll from consuming fugu?
About one person per year
This is due to improper preparation and consumption of the toxic parts.
What does MSG stand for?
Monosodium glutamate
What percentage of the world’s MSG is produced by Ajinomoto?
About one-third
What was the title of the letter published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 1968?
Chinese-Restaurant Syndrome
True or False: MSG has been proven to have deleterious effects when consumed in normal quantities.
False
According to Ole G. Mouritsen and Klavs Styrbaek, how has MSG been scrutinized?
It has been subjected to the most thorough scrutiny of all time
What do taste buds primarily provide us information about?
Basic textures and attributes of food
What is the difference between taste and flavor?
Flavor is taste plus smell
Fill in the blank: Smell is said to account for at least _______ percent of flavor.
70
What is the retronasal route?
The pathway through which aroma reaches us from the back of the nasal passage
How does sound influence our perception of food?
Crunchier sounds are rated as fresher and tastier
In the University of Bordeaux blind taste test, what influenced students’ perceptions of wine?
The color of the wine
What does the brain do with the flavor molecules we perceive?
It vivifies them for our pleasure
What is the larynx primarily responsible for?
Producing sound through vocal folds
What are the three phases of speech production?
- Respiration
- Phonation
- Articulation
What is stuttering?
A speech disorder characterized by disruptions in fluency
What percentage of adults are affected by stuttering?
1 percent
True or False: Stuttering is more common in females than males.
False
What is the uvula?
A small fleshy appendage at the back of the throat
What role does the uvula play in swallowing?
It directs food down the throat and away from the nasal passage
Fill in the blank: The name ‘uvula’ comes from the Latin for ‘little _______’.
grape
What happens to people who have had their uvula removed?
They may lose some control over guttural sounds
