Swallowing Flashcards
What is formed during the process of chewing?
A food bolus is formed.
What is swallowing?
The act of transferring the food bolus from the mouth to the oesophagus.
What two stages can swallowing be divided into?
Pharyngeal stage and oesophageal stage.
What happens when the bolus contacts the back of the pharynx?
The swallow reflex is triggered, the soft palate rises to block off the nasopharynx and elevation of the larynx moves the epiglottis over the trachea.
What are the four muscles of the tongue that initiate swallowing?
Styloglossus
Palatoglossus
Hyoglossus
Genioglossus
What muscles lift the soft palate?
Palatine muscles.
What is the larynx lifted by to close the trachea?
Muscles of the throat (suprahyoid muscle).
What contracts to push food down the pharynx and into the oesophagus?
The pharyngeal constrictors.
What is the oesophageal stage of swallowing?
The involuntary action of smooth muscles that pushes food towards the stomach.
