The Anatomical Mechanism of Swallowing; Normal vs. Abnormal Swallowing.
Thesis: In this paper I will first discuss the anatomical mechanics of swallowing in order to compare normal vs. abnormal swallowing.
A. Oral Cavity: lips, the teeth, hard palate, soft palate, uvula, mandible, lower jaw, floor of mouth, tongue, and faucial arches. (Logemann, 1998)
B. Pharynx: three pharyngeal constrictors; superior, medial, and inferior.
E. Muscles involved in swallowing: There are more than 20 different muscles and few cranial nerves involved; Tensor Palatini Muscle, Levator Palatinin Muscle, Pterygomandibular Raphe, Superior Constrictor Muscle, Middle Constrictor Muscle, Hyoglossus Muscle, Mylohyoid Muscle, Inferior Constrictor Muscle Criocopharyngeus Muscle Thyro-hyoid Muscle.
Cranial Nerves: Trigeminal, Facial, Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, Hypoglossal nerves, The Spinal Accessory Nerve.
III. Normal Swallowing: In order to describe Normal Swallowing we need to discuss the physiology of swallowing as well.
Oral Stage: Tongue, hard palate, soft palate, teeth, and lips.
Pharyngeal Stage: laryngeal closure, velopharyngeal closure, pharyngeal peristalsis, laryngeal elevation, epiglottic movement, trachea. The 3 cranial nerves that are involved.
Esophageal Stage: Esophageal Peristalsis, Involuntary neural control, esophageal sphincters.
Abnormal swallow mechanism, possible damages to nerves and muscles involved in swallowing, i.e. cerebral palsy, ParkinsonÆs, stroke, head injury, Head and Neck Cancer, Infection in Esophagus, AlzheimerÆs, and CVA, etc. can be responsible for Dysphagia. However, I will focus on ALS which has two forms, spinal and bulbar, and the CVA.
V. Conclusions: It is important to have a good understanding of swallow anatomy, physiology, and th
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