Abstract
Deglutition, the act of swallowing, is a complex process that involves coordinated movements within the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. A normal swallow prepares and transfers food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach with the coordination of more than 30 muscles (Shaw and Martino, Otolaryngol Clin North Am 46:937–56, 2013). There are four distinct phases of swallowing: oral preparatory, oral transport, pharyngeal, and esophageal. These swallowing phases are coordinated by six cranial nerves and three peripheral nerves. Understanding the normal anatomy and physiology of swallowing is pertinent to successfully diagnosing and treating swallowing dysfunctions. The anatomy and embryology of the swallowing process are reviewed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- CN:
-
Cranial nerve
- CPG:
-
Central pattern generator
- LAR:
-
Laryngeal adductor response
- LCR:
-
Laryngeal cough reflex
- LES:
-
Lower esophageal sphincter
- UES:
-
Upper esophageal sphincter
References
Lear CS, Flanagan JB, Moorrees CF. The frequency of deglutition in man. Arch Oral Biol. 1965;10:83–100.
Shaw SM, Martino R. The normal swallow: muscular and neurophysiological control. Otolaryngol Clin N Am. 2013;46:937–56.
Graney DO, KCY S. Anatomy and developmental embryology of the neck. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund VJ, Niparko JK, Richardson MA, Robbins KT, et al., editors. Cummings otolaryngology. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2010. p. 2577–86.
Frisdal A, Trainor PA. Development and evolution of the pharyngeal apparatus. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol. 2008;3:403–18.
Licameli GR, Richardson MA. Diagnosis and management of tracheal anomalies and tracheal stenosis. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund VJ, Niparko JK, Richardson MA, Robbins KT, et al., editors. Cummings otolaryngology. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2010. p. 2925–34.
Chavan K. Anatomy of swallowing. In: Mankekar G, editor. Swallowing-physiology, disorders, diagnosis, and therapy. New Delhi: Springer; 2015. p. 1–20.
Edgar WM. Saliva: its secretion, composition and functions. Br Dent J. 1992;172:305–12.
Jean A. Brain stem control of swallowing: localization and organization of the central pattern generator for swallowing. In: Taylor A, editor. Neurophysiology of jaws and teeth. London: Macmillan; 1990. p. 294–321.
Cunningham EJ, Jones B. Anatomical and physiological overview. In: Jones B, editor. Normal and abnormal swallowing: imaging in diagnosis and therapy. New York: Springer; 2003.
Hennessy M, Goldenberg D. Surgical anatomy and physiology of swallowing. Oper Tech Otolaryngol. 2016;27:60–6.
Mankekar G, Chavan K. Physiology of swallowing and esophageal function tests. In: Mankekar G, editor. Swallowing – physiology, disorders, diagnosis and therapy. New Delhi: Springer India; 2015.
Dodds WJ, Stewart ET, Logeman JA. Physiology pharyngeal and radiology of the normal phases of swallowing. Am J Roentgenol. 1990;154:953–63.
Shah S, Garriano F. Pediatric oral anatomy. Oper Tech Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;26:2–7.
McConnel FM. Analysis of pressure generation and bolus transit during pharyngeal swallowing. Laryngoscope. 1988;98:71–8.
Derkay CS, Schechter GL. Anatomy and physiology of pediatric swallowing disorders. Otolaryngol Clin N Am. 1998;31:397–404.
Matsuo K, Palmer JB. Anatomy and physiology of feeding and swallowing: normal and abnormal. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am Elsevier Inc. 2008;19:691–707.
Indelfinger F. Esophageal motility. Physiol Rev. 1958;38:533–84.
Bosma F. Third symposium on oral sensation and perception. Thomas CC, editor. Springfield; 1972.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ahn, A.K., Musso, M.F. (2018). Embryology and Anatomy. In: Ongkasuwan, J., Chiou, E. (eds) Pediatric Dysphagia. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97025-7_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97025-7_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97024-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97025-7
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)