How Swallowing Works

Ever wondered how we swallow? What appears to be a simple act is actually very complex! When we swallow, it happens in phases: 

  1. Oral phase

  2. Pharyngeal phase and 

  3. Oesophageal phase

Each phase must happen perfectly for us to swallow safely, and yet this process happens naturally. The oral phase begins once we put food or liquid in our mouths. We chew the food and move it around until it is ready to be swallowed.

  

From www.answers.com

 The pharyngeal phase follows when our tongue pushes the food back and the soft palate (small, flap-like structure at the back of our mouths) closes off the nasal cavity to stop the food or liquid from escaping through our nose. The food goes into our throats (pharynx-thus the name “pharyngeal phase”), and our vocal folds close (which closes off the airway and stops breathing) to prevent the food from entering our voice-box (larynx) and going down into our lungs.

The final phase is the oesophageal phase. The food is pushed into the oesophagus, which is the tube leading to our stomachs. A wave-like motion moves the food to our stomachs. The soft palate and vocal folds re-open so that we can breathe again.  In order for swallowing to be effective, each of these phases and muscles have to work in perfect unity, otherwise the simple act of eating becomes a very difficult process.

 Contributed by Maaliyah Orrie (Speech Therapist)