J Korean Dysphagia Soc.  2011 Jan;1(1):9-18.

Anatomy and Physiology of Normal Swallowing

• Ahn KM

Abstract

Normal swallowing occurs so smoothly that the process is often misbelieved as a very simple sequence. However, swallowing consists of volitional and reflective activities which included more than 30 cranial nerves and muscles. The harmony and orchestration of swallowing is so well organized and occurs more than 2,400 times a day. In this article, normal anatomy including oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, muscles and cranial nerves were reviewed. And the major four steps of swallowing such as oral preparatory phase, oral phase, pharyngeal phase and esophageal phase are analyzed.

Keyword

Swallowing; Physiology; Anatomy; Oral phase; Pharyngeal phase; Esophageal phase