Wrinkles

What happens in the pharynx during swallowing?

The soft palate rises, the hyoid bone and larynx move upward and forward, the vocal folds move to the midline, the epiglottis folds backward to protect the airway, and the tongue pushes backward and downward into the pharynx to propel the bolus downward.

Does the pharynx help with swallowing?

Before you swallow, you chew your food to an appropriate size, shape, and consistency. When you swallow, this material passes through your mouth and a part of your throat called the pharynx.

What occurs during swallowing?

The teeth grind and chop food into tiny pieces while the glands in the mouth moisten it with saliva. Then the tongue pushes the moistened food, or bolus, to the back of the throat and down into the esophagus, which leads to the stomach.

What is the pharynx covered by when swallowing?

The oral pharynx begins at the back of the mouth cavity and continues down the throat to the epiglottis, a flap of tissue that covers the air passage to the lungs and that channels food to the esophagus.

What are the 4 stages of the swallowing process?

There are 4 phases of swallowing:

  • The Pre-oral Phase. – Starts with the anticipation of food being introduced into the mouth – Salivation is triggered by the sight and smell of food (as well as hunger)
  • The Oral Phase. …
  • The Pharyngeal Phase. …
  • The Oesophageal Phase.

Which activity occurs during the pharyngeal phase of swallowing?

The pharyngeal phase of swallowing is involuntary and totally reflexive, so no pharyngeal activity occurs until the swallowing reflex is triggered. This swallowing reflex lasts approximately 1 second and involves the motor and sensory tracts from cranial nerves IX (glossopharyngeal) and X (vagus).

What are the three functions of the pharynx?

The pharynx, commonly called the throat, is a passageway that extends from the base of the skull to the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. It serves both the respiratory and digestive systems by receiving air from the nasal cavity and air, food, and water from the oral cavity.

What is the pharynx?

The hollow tube inside the neck that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus (the tube that goes to the stomach). The pharynx is about 5 inches long, depending on body size. Also called throat.