Fig. 5.6 The swallowing reflex:
(a) the tongue pushes food back in oral cavity (voluntary); (b) as food moves under the soft palate, throat muscles cause the soft palate to elevate, closing the nasal air passageway (reflex); (c) as muscle contractions push food through the pharynx, muscle contractions of the pharynx and larynx cause the epiglottis to fold down over the glottis, closing glottis (reflex); (d) throat muscle contractions push food over the epiglottis and into the esophagus; (e) wave of contraction down the esophagus pushes food down and into the stomach. Soft palate and epiglottis return to original positions to allow breathing again. (Sources of images and videos below. Used with permission.)

Videos

“Swallowing”

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/anatomyvideos/000126.htm

“Peristalsis” (First 30 seconds)

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/anatomyvideos/000097.htm

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Sources of images. Used with permission.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/swallow_food.png

Modified: A.G. DiGiovanna

Redrawn from the original

Videos

“Swallowing”

NOT COPYRIGHTED

**** https://medlineplus.gov/ency/anatomyvideos/000126.htm

“Peristalsis” (First 30 seconds)

NOT COPYRIGHTED

**** https://medlineplus.gov/ency/anatomyvideos/000097.htm