anatomy and physiology of the normal swallow

Question 1

four stages (phases) of a normal swallow

Answer 1

oral preparatory; oral (transit); pharyngeal; esophageal

Question 2

phase: everything you do in your mouth to form a bolus (ball of food or liquid)

mastication
bolus formation
bolus maintenance

Answer 2

oral preparatory phase

Question 3

phase: moving the bolus back into the pharynx (throat)

Answer 3

oral (transit) phase

Question 4

phase: as soon as the swallow response is triggered (when you feel the swallow initiate); another indicator is the upward movement of the thyroid cartilage or the hyoid bone

Answer 4

pharyngeal phase

Question 5

phase: this is not assessed; screened at most (check for tumors, etc.)

Answer 5

esophageal phase

Question 6

a common place for food to get stuck (like a pocket); it sits above and anterior to the epiglottis; it is the space between the epiglottis and the base of the tongue

Answer 6

valleculae

Question 7

a name for when food or drink residue goes into the airway

Answer 7

penetration / aspiration

Question 8

mastication

Answer 8

oral preparatory phase; CN V (masseter muscles mainly involved); CN VII for lip seal; CN XII for tongue; CN V and IX for salivary glands

Question 9

how to check for masseter muscles

Answer 9

place hands on massater muscles and have the ct bite down; the bulk should be present and equal on both sides

Question 10

how to check for labial (CN VII) symmetry

Answer 10

“show me your teeth (smile)”

Question 11

which sulci do you look into during an oral motor exam to check for food residue

Answer 11

labial sulcus; buccal sulcus

Question 12

this landmark is where the swallow is theorized to initiate

Answer 12

ramus of mandible

Question 13

intraoral sensation

Answer 13

everything inside the mouth : CN V :: back posterior third of the tongue : CN IX