What happens in the esophageal phase of swallowing?

What happens in the esophageal phase of swallowing?

• A. The bolus is pushed into the stomach
• B. Cranial nerves #7 and #10 are active
• C. The tongue is positioned to prevent entry into the naso pharynx
• D. The bolus is chewed and moved to the throat

Answer: (A)

In the esophageal phase of swallowing, the primary action involves the transport of the bolus from the pharynx to the stomach. This phase is characterized by the involuntary movement of the food bolus through the esophagus, facilitated by a series of coordinated muscle contractions known as peristalsis. These contractions push the bolus downward toward the stomach, allowing it to enter the gastric cavity for further digestion. While cranial nerves play significant roles in the earlier phases of swallowing, such as the oral and pharyngeal phases, their specific involvement is less emphasized during the esophageal phase where the autonomic nervous system takes over to manage the peristaltic action. Lifting the tongue to prevent entry into the nasopharynx occurs primarily in the pharyngeal phase, ensuring that food does not enter the respiratory pathway. Chewing and moving the bolus to the throat are actions associated with the oral phase, not the esophageal phase. Thus, the correct understanding of the esophageal phase focuses on the movement of the bolus into the stomach through peristalsis.

In the esophageal phase of swallowing, the primary action involves the transport of the bolus from the pharynx to the stomach. This phase is characterized by the involuntary movement of the food bolus through the esophagus, facilitated by a series of coordinated muscle contractions known as peristalsis. These contractions push the bolus downward toward the stomach, allowing it to enter the gastric cavity for further digestion.

While cranial nerves play significant roles in the earlier phases of swallowing, such as the oral and pharyngeal phases, their specific involvement is less emphasized during the esophageal phase where the autonomic nervous system takes over to manage the peristaltic action. Lifting the tongue to prevent entry into the nasopharynx occurs primarily in the pharyngeal phase, ensuring that food does not enter the respiratory pathway. Chewing and moving the bolus to the throat are actions associated with the oral phase, not the esophageal phase. Thus, the correct understanding of the esophageal phase focuses on the movement of the bolus into the stomach through peristalsis.