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Swallowing anatomy items ask you to identify structures, phases, and mechanisms of a normal swallow. Expect 4-6 items — building blocks for dysphagia intervention questions.
Try answering before revealing the rationale — mark misses to retry later.
Q1.During the pharyngeal phase of swallowing, which action opens the upper esophageal sphincter?
Correct: B. Hyolaryngeal excursion (upward and forward movement of the hyoid and larynx) mechanically pulls open the cricopharyngeus/UES, allowing bolus passage into the esophagus.
Q2.Which structure inverts to protect the airway during the pharyngeal swallow?
Correct: A. The epiglottis inverts to cover the laryngeal vestibule during the pharyngeal swallow, contributing to airway protection along with true and false vocal fold closure.
Q3.The pharyngeal phase of a normal swallow lasts approximately:
Correct: A. The pharyngeal phase is the fastest phase, typically completing in less than 1 second. It is involuntary once triggered.
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How many phases of swallowing are there?
Four: oral prep, oral transport, pharyngeal, and esophageal.
Which phase is involuntary?
The pharyngeal and esophageal phases are involuntary once triggered. Oral phases are voluntary.
What triggers the pharyngeal swallow?
Sensory input from the base of tongue, faucial pillars, and pharynx (CN IX/X) triggers the involuntary pharyngeal swallow response.