Concept
Swallowing is how we move food and drinks from our mouth to our stomach safely. It involves many parts of our body working together, like our tongue, throat, and a special flap called the epiglottis that keeps food from going into our lungs.
Relevant Fields:
Concept
Deglutition, commonly known as swallowing, is a complex process involving the coordinated action of muscles and nerves to transport food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach. It consists of three phases: oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal, each crucial for ensuring that the ingested material is safely and efficiently directed into the digestive tract.
Concept
The esophageal phase is the final stage of swallowing, where food or liquid is transported from the esophagus to the stomach through a series of coordinated muscular contractions known as peristalsis. This phase is crucial for efficient digestion and is regulated by both autonomic and Enteric Nervous Systems to ensure the timely passage of the bolus into the stomach.
Concept
The oral phase is the initial stage of psychosexual development, as proposed by Sigmund Freud, where an infant's pleasure centers around the mouth, leading to activities such as sucking and biting. This phase, occurring from birth to about 18 months, is crucial for developing trust and comfort through oral stimulation, and disruptions can lead to oral fixations in adulthood.
Concept
The pharyngeal phase is a critical stage in the swallowing process where the bolus is involuntarily propelled from the oropharynx to the esophagus through coordinated muscle contractions. This phase ensures that the airway is protected by closing the epiglottis and involves complex neural control to prevent aspiration.
Concept
Concept
The swallowing reflex is an involuntary action that ensures food and liquid pass safely from the mouth to the stomach, preventing aspiration into the respiratory tract. It involves a complex coordination of muscles and nerves, primarily controlled by the brainstem, to facilitate the three phases: oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal.
Concept
Dysphagia is a medical condition characterized by difficulty or discomfort in swallowing, which can result from a variety of causes including neurological disorders, structural abnormalities, or muscle dysfunction. It often requires a multidisciplinary approach for diagnosis and management to prevent complications such as malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia.
Concept
Bolus formation is the process by which food is chewed and mixed with saliva to form a cohesive mass that can be easily swallowed. This critical step in digestion involves mechanical and chemical processes that prepare food for enzymatic breakdown in the stomach and intestines.
Concept
Peristalsis is the involuntary, wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract, from the esophagus to the intestines. It is crucial for the digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as for the elimination of waste from the body.
Concept
The upper esophageal sphincter (UES) is a critical muscular valve located at the junction of the pharynx and esophagus, playing a crucial role in swallowing by preventing the entry of air into the esophagus and the backflow of esophageal contents into the pharynx. Dysfunction of the UES can lead to swallowing disorders and is often evaluated in the context of conditions like dysphagia and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Concept
Oropharyngeal exercises are targeted physical therapy techniques designed to strengthen the muscles of the throat and tongue, often used to treat sleep apnea and improve swallowing function. These exercises can enhance airway stability and reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea by increasing muscle tone and coordination in the oropharyngeal region.
The extrinsic muscles of the tongue are responsible for altering the tongue's position, allowing for complex movements essential for speech and swallowing. These muscles originate outside the tongue and attach to it, enabling actions such as protrusion, retraction, elevation, and depression.
Concept
Tongue mobility refers to the range of motion and flexibility of the tongue, which is crucial for speech articulation, swallowing, and oral hygiene. Impairments in Tongue mobility can result from anatomical constraints, neuromuscular disorders, or surgical interventions, impacting communication and quality of life.
Concept
Videofluoroscopy is a dynamic imaging technique that combines fluoroscopy with video recording to visualize the movement of internal structures in real-time, primarily used in assessing swallowing function. It allows clinicians to observe the biomechanics of swallowing, identify abnormalities, and guide therapeutic interventions.
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