List six major actions in the swallowing reflex?

Answer 1

1. The soft palate (including the uvula) raises, preventing food from entering the nasal cavity.

2. The hyoid bone and the larynx are elevated. A flaplike structure attached to the larynx, called the epiglottis, closes off the top of the larynx so that food is less likely to enter the trachea.

3. The tongue is pressed against the soft palate, sealing off the oral cavity

4. The longitudinal muscles in the pharyngeal wall contract, pulling the pharynx upward toward the food.

5. Muscles in the lower portion of the pharynx relax, opening the esophagus.

6. A peristaltic wave begins in the pharyngeal muscles and forces the food into the esophagus

^--- not my words - these are the words from the text book: "Hole's essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology" edition #10 (Shier, Butler, Lewis).

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Answer 2

1. Voluntary phase: Food is chewed and formed into a bolus by the tongue.
2. Pharyngeal phase: The soft palate and larynx close off to prevent food from entering the nasal cavity and airway.
3. Pharyngeal swallow reflex: The bolus is propelled down the pharynx to the esophagus through coordinated muscle contractions.
4. Esophageal phase: The bolus moves through the esophagus via peristalsis.
5. Lower esophageal sphincter relaxation: Allows the bolus to enter the stomach.
6. Gastroesophageal phase: The bolus is pushed from the stomach into the small intestine for digestion and absorption.

Answer 3

1) elevation of the larynx and folding of the epiglottis to direct the bolus past the glottis.

2) elevation of the soft palate.

3) opening of the upper esophageal sphincter and persitalic movement of the bolus.

4) compression of the bolus against the hard palate.

5) isolation of the nasopharynx.

6) retraction of the tongue to force the blous into the pharynx.

Answer 4

The Trigeminal Nerve

The Facial Nerve

The Glossopharygeal Nerve

The Vagus Nerve

The Spinal Accessory Nerve

The Hypoglossal Nerve