Lecture 6 - Swallowing Development

Question 1

In infants, what are the anatomical differences?

Answer 1

teeth not erupted
tongue fills the oral cavity
fat pads in the cheek narrow the oral cavity laterally
hard palate is flatter
larynx and hyoid bone are higher in the neck
soft palate touches the epiglottis

Question 2

What is the oral stage of infant swallowing?

Answer 2

lips, cheek and tongue produce a vacuum for sucking movements.
Infant repeatedly pumps the tongue which draws milk from the nipple (suck-to-swallow ratio of 1:1 or 2:1
liquid is collected at the faucial arches

Question 3

What is the pharyngeal stage of infant swallowing?

Answer 3

when a bolus of adequate size has been formed, the pharyngeal swallow triggers.