swallowing Flashcards
what are the structures that are involved in swallowing
chest wall, vocal folds, ventricular folds, epiglottis, pharynx, laryngopharynx, oropharynx, nasopharynx, velum, tongue, mandible, and lips
what is the esophagus
a flexible tube that stretches from the lower pharynx to the stomach. it lies behind the trachea, pulmonary apparatus, and heart
what are the vocal folds role in swallowing
helps close the airway to protect it during swallowing
define the pharynx
a muscular tube that helps move food to the esophagus
how long is the esophagus
about 20 cm
what type of muscle is in the cervical esophagus
striated
what type of muscle is in the thoracic esophagus
mixed striated and smooth
what type of muscle is in the abdominal esophagus
smooth
what is the upper esophageal sphincter
a high pressure area at the top of the esophagus
what is the lower esophageal sphincter
a high pressure area at the bottom of the esophagus
what is the stomach made of
smooth muscle, mucosa, and other tissue
where is the stomach located
left side of the abdominal cavity
what does the pyloric sphincter do
it regulates the exit of food into the small intestine
what are the passive forces in swallowing
tissue recoil, surface tension, gravity, and air pressure
what are the active forces in swallowing
muscle activation in breathing, larynx, and pharynx
what is the point of the upper and lower esophageal sphincters
they act as closed valves at rest
what is the first phase of swallowing and what happens
oral prep phase- bolus is chewed or held for swallowing
what is the second phase of swallowing and what happens
oral transport phase- bolus pushed to the pharynx
what is the third phase of swallowing and what happens
pharyngeal transport phase- bolus moves through the pharynx and to the esophagus
what is the fourth phase of swallowing and what happens
esophageal transport phase- bolus moves to the stomach via peristalsis
when does swallowing begin in the fetus
12.5 weeks gestation
what is suckling
early feeding movement with forward-backward tongue motion
what is sucking
a stronger tongue movement to pull thicker substances
at what age can babies eat soft foods
6 months
when is regular table food typically introduced
2-3 years
what is swallow-related apnea
a brief pause in breathing during swallowing
when does swallowing usually occur in the breathing cycle
during expiration
how long does the apneic interval last
about 1 second
what can influence the apneic interval
bolus size, ventilation, and timing
what is dysphagia
a swallowing disorder
what are organic causes of dysphagia
structural, neurogenic, or systematic issues
what is functional dysphagia
swallowing issues with no physical cause
what is phagophobia
fear of swallowing
which cranial nerve controls the upper esophageal sphincter
vagus nerve (X)
which cranial nerve controls the lower esophageal sphincter
vagus nerve (X)
what controls the automatic phases of swallowing
the brainstem
what controls the voluntary phases of swallowing
cortical and subcortical areas
what can happen with damage to the Vagus Nerve
voice and swallowing problems
What does the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) do during swallowing?
The UES opens to allow food to pass from the pharynx into the esophagus and prevents air from entering the esophagus.
How does the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function?
The LES prevents food from refluxing back into the esophagus after it passes into the stomach
what is the peristalsis in the esophagus
it is a series of wave like muscle contractions that move the bolus through the esophagus
what is the role of the pyloric sphincter in digestion
it regulates the flow of food from the stomach into the small intestine
the areas of the ues and les are zones of _____
high pressure
how many liters of liquids/solids does the stomach hold
about 1 liter
bolus is held with the tongue tip elevated and contacting the back
surface of the maxillary incisors
dipper
hold bolus on the floor of the oral cavity in front of the tongue
tipper
