Swallowing Process and Stages

The video tutorial explains the complex process of swallowing, which involves the safe transport of saliva, solids, and liquids from the mouth to the stomach. It requires the coordination of 31 muscles across the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. Swallowing is divided into three stages: oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal. During the oral stage, food is chewed and mixed with saliva to form a bolus. The pharyngeal stage involves the swallowing reflex, where the epiglottis closes the larynx to protect the respiratory tract. Finally, the esophageal stage allows the bolus to pass into the stomach through the relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter.

What is the primary function of swallowing?

• To transport food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach

• To taste different flavors

• To chew food into smaller pieces

• To produce saliva

How many muscles are involved in the swallowing process?

• 60

• 45

• 31

• 15

During the oral stage, what happens to the food in the mouth?

• It is swallowed immediately

• It is stored for later digestion

• It is pushed directly into the esophagus

• It is chewed and mixed with saliva to form a bolus

What action does the tongue perform during the oral stage?

• It pushes the bolus towards the pharynx

• It chews the food

• It mixes the food with digestive enzymes

• It stores the food

What triggers the swallowing reflex during the pharyngeal stage?

• The presence of saliva

• The arrival of the bolus in the throat

• The movement of the tongue

• The relaxation of the esophageal sphincter

What characterizes the esophageal stage of swallowing?

• The bolus is tasted

• The bolus passes from the esophagus to the stomach

• The bolus is formed

• The bolus is chewed