Swallowing Order

Swallowing Order
1. Food is moistened and broken down through mastication to form a bolus



2. Orbicularis oris contracts to form a tight seal on the oral cavity and the superior
longitudinal muscle elevates the apex of the tongue to contact the hard palate,
causing the bolus to be propelled to the posterior portion of the oral cavity where it
crosses the palatoglossal arch to trigger the pharyngeal phase via the stimulation of
receptors



3. Nasopharynx is closed by tensing and elevating the soft palate by tensor palatini
and levator palatini


4. The pharynx is prepared to receive the bolus by being pulled upwards and forwards
by the suprahyoid and longitudinal pharyngeal muscles



5. The closure of the nasopharynx and elevation of the pharynx opens the auditory
tube that equalises the pressure between the nasopharynx and middle ear



6. The oropharynx is kept close by the palatoglossus, intrinsic muscles of the
tongue and styloglossus


7. The larynx protected by closing the rima glottidis, rima vestibuli and vestibule and
narrowing the laryngeal inlet. The larynx is moved up and forward by the
suprahyoid muscles, causing the epiglottis to swing downwards towards the
arytenoid cartilages. This movement also opens the oesophagus



8. The bolus down into the open oesophagus by peristalsis- the results of sequential
contractions of the superior, middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictor
muscles