[ICD 10 Search]

Back
[ICD 10 Search]

Swallowing

Swallowing, known scientifically as deglutition, is the reflex in the human body that makes something pass from the mouth, through the esophagus. If this fails and the object goes through the trachea, then chokingoccurs if the airway is completely blocked, or pulmonary aspirationoccurs if the object is drawn into the lungs.

The mechanism for swallowing is co-ordinated by the swallowing centre in the medulla oblongataand pons. The reflex is initiated by touch receptors in the pharynxas a bolusof food is pushed to the back of the mouth by the tongue. Then:

The soft palateis pulled upwards to stop food getting into the nasal cavity, and the palatopharyngeal folds on each side of the pharynx are brought close together, so that only boluses of an approximately small size can pass.
The larynxis pulled upwards towards the flap-like epiglottiswhich passively shuts off its entrance and the vocal cords are pulled close together, narrowing the passageway between them.
The respiratory centre of the medulla is directly inhibited by the swallowing centre for the very brief time that it takes to swallow. This is known as deglutition apnoea.
The upper oesophageal sphincter relaxes to let food past, after which various striated constrictor muscles of the pharynx contract sequentially to push the bolus of food down into the esophagus.

In terminally ill patients, a failure of the reflex to swallow leads to a buildup of mucous or saliva in the throat and airways, producing a noise known as a death rattle.

Swallowing

See also