Pharynx And Oesophagus (swallowing) Flashcards
What is formed during the process of chewing food?
A bolus
What is the act of transferring the bolus from the mouth to the oesophagus called?
Swallowing
What are the two stages swallowing can be divided into?
Pharyngeal stage and oesophageal stage
Describe the pharyngeal stage of swallowing
The initiation of swallowing is voluntary. The muscles of the tongue push the bolus posteriorly and the oral cavity opens into the oropharynx
What happens when the bolus of food contacts the back of the pharynx?
The swallow reflex is triggered
What rises to block off the nasopharynx?
The soft palate (palatine muscles covered in mucosa)
Where does the elevation of the larynx move to?
It moves the epiglottis over the laryngeal opening
What is the larynx lifted by?
It is lifted by the muscles of the neck (suprahyoid muscles) to close off the airway
What do the pharyngeal constrictors do?
They contract sequentially to push down the pharynx and into the oesophagus
Describe the oesophageal stage of swallowing
Once food has entered the oesophagus, the involuntary action of the smooth muscle pushes the food towards the stomach
Where does the oesophagus finish?
Passes from the pharynx all the wall down to the stomach, passing through the diaphragm at the vertebral level of T10
What is found at the junction between the oesophagus and the stomach?
A physiological sphincter called the lower oesophageal sphincter
What has to happen to the lower oesophageal sphincter to allow food to enter?
It has to relax
How does the oesophagus enter the stomach?
It enters at an acute angle
What do the bands of muscles from the diaphragm increase?
Tension as the oesophagus passes through the oesophageal hiatus
What is a hiatus hernia?
It occurs when the upper part of the stomach squeezes through a gap between the oesophagus and the diaphragm
When is hiatus hernia present?
When it causes a reflux of stomach contents into the oesophagus (gastro-oesophageal reflux)
What is reflux treated by?
Drugs and altering lifestyle
What do antacids do?
They neutralise the refluxed stomach contents reducing pain and damaging effects of the acids
How can reflux be avoided?
Eating smaller meals, raising the upper body when sleeping and reducing caffeine, alcohol and spicy meals
What type population does hiatus hernia affect?
Overweight middle aged women, elderly people, pregnant women - can almost always be resolved by losing weight
