What are the stages of deglutition?

Answer 1

Deglutition, or swallowing, can be divided into three stages. The oral, pharyngeal and oesophageal stages.

Oral stage - the bolus of food is prepared --> the apex of the tongue presses on the palate --> rapid contraction of mylohyoideus and extrinsic muscles of the tongue propel the food (bolus) to the pharynx.

Pharyngeal stage - the bolus hits the pharynx and triggers reflexes (from this point it is no longer voluntary) --> the soft palate is raised, the glottis closed and the pharynx shortened --> pharyngeal constrictors move bolus into the oesophagus

Oesophageal stage - peristalsis moves the bolus to the stomach

Answer 2

Deglutition, or swallowing, consists of three stages: oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal. During the oral stage, the food is chewed and formed into a bolus before being voluntarily pushed to the back of the mouth. In the pharyngeal stage, the swallow reflex is triggered to move the bolus through the pharynx and into the esophagus. Finally, in the esophageal stage, peristalsis helps transport the food down the esophagus and into the stomach.

Answer 3

Mouth, nasopharynx, and larynx are blocked; upper esophageal sphincter relaxes to open esophagus; food moves through esophagus by pressure gradients created by peristalsis.