Study Question Eight

• Q8. List all of the steps in the swallowing process and how the epiglottis is the “guardian of the windpipe”.
• Swallowing Process

  • Oral Phase - voluntary
  • Pharyngeal Phase - involuntary
  • Esophageal Phase - involuntary
• Oral Phase

  • Chewing: Food is chewed and mixed with saliva to form mass called bolus.
  • Bolus: Tongue moves bolus to back of the mouth.
  • Swallowing: Swallowing reflex is triggered.
• Pharyngeal Phase

  • Soft palate: Soft palate rises to block off nasopharynx, preventing food from entering nasal cavity.
  • Epiglottis: Epiglottis moves, covering opening of trachea to prevent from entering respiratory system.
  • Laryngeal: Vocal cords close tightly, protecting airway.
  • Pharyngeal muscles: Muscles in pharynx contract to push bolus downward toward esophagus.
• Esophageal Phase

  • Upper Esophagus: Bolus enters esophagus through esophageal sphincter.
  • Peristalsis: Contractions of esophageal muscles continue to push bolus down esophagus toward stomach.
  • Lower Esophagus: Lower esophageal sphincter relaxes to allow bolus to enter stomach.
  • Stomach: Bolus now in stomach, digestion begins.
• Epiglottis

  • Location and Function: Leaf-shaped cartilage located at base of tongue, just above the larynx and trachea.
  • Role: The epiglottis closes over trachea like a lid, sealing off trachea and preventing bolus from entering airways.
• List all of the steps in the swallowing process and how the epiglottis is the “guardian of the windpipe”.

  The first stage of the swallowing process is the oral phase which involves chewing until the food forms a bolus, the tongue moves the bolus to the back of the mouth, and the swallowing reflex is triggered.
• List all of the steps in the swallowing process and how the epiglottis is the “guardian of the windpipe”.


  Following that is the pharyngeal phase that starts with the soft palate blocking off the nasopharynx, the epiglottis moving to cover the respiratory pathway, the laryngeal's vocal cords closing the airway further, and the pharyngeal muscles contracting to push the bolus down toward the esophagus.
• List all of the steps in the swallowing process and how the epiglottis is the “guardian of the windpipe”.


  The final stage of the swallowing process is the esophageal phase, starting with the bolus entering through the upper esophagus, then contractions of esophageal muscles push the bolus towards the stomach, the lower esophagus relaxes and allows the bolus to enter the stomach, and the stomach is where digestion will begin.
• List all of the steps in the swallowing process and how the epiglottis is the “guardian of the windpipe”.


  The epiglottis is known as the guardian of the windpipe because it protects the respiratory system from the bolus accidentally entering. The epiglottis closes over the trachea, preventing the bolus from entering the wrong way.