Swallowing Disorders

Submitted by

Javeria Arif

Roll no14

MS-SLP

Session 2023-2025

Submitted to

Dr Nayyab Iftikhar

Center for Clinical Psychology

UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB

LAHORE
 PHASES OF SWALLOWING

The oral preparatory The oral phases is a

stage begins when food voluntary phase that
is introduced into the begins with the
oral cavity. Food is posterior propulsion of
chewed into smaller the bolus by the tongue
pieces and mixed with and ends with initiation
saliva to form a bolus of the pharyngeal
swallow.

Esophageal phase ends

The pharyngeal phase
once the bolus passes
begins with the
through the lower
initiation of a voluntary
esophageal sphincter
pharyngeal swallow
(LES) and into the
which in turn propels
stomach. At rest, the LES
the bolus through the
is tonically contracted to
pharynx via
prevent reflux from the
involuntary peristaltic
stomach, and it
contraction of the
undergoes relaxation
pharyngeal
during the swallowing
constrictors.
phase.
 Nerves involved in swallowing process

1. Oral Stage: This stage involves the voluntary process of manipulating food or liquid in the
mouth and forming it into a bolus (a rounded mass of food). The main nerve involved in this stage
is the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V), which provides sensory information for chewing and
movement of the tongue.

2. Pharyngeal Stage: This stage begins as the bolus is pushed to the back of the mouth and into
the pharynx. It is an involuntary stage involving a complex sequence of events to prevent food or
liquid from entering the airway (aspiration). The main nerves involved in this stage are:

 Glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX): Provides sensory information from the
oropharynx and helps coordinate swallowing.
 Vagus nerve (cranial nerve X): Plays a crucial role in coordinating the muscles involved
in swallowing and in controlling the opening and closing of the upper esophageal
sphincter to prevent aspiration.

3. Esophageal Stage: Once the bolus enters the esophagus, the process of peristalsis begins to
push it down toward the stomach. The Vagus nerve continues to be involved in coordinating this
stage, ensuring that the bolus is moved efficiently into the stomach.

In summary, the trigeminal nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, and Vagus nerve are the main nerves
involved in the swallowing process, each playing a specific role in different stages of swallowing.