Deglutition, or swallowing, is the coordinated muscle contraction that moves food through the oral cavity, esophagus, and into the stomach. There are two main types of swallowing: infantile swallow and mature swallow. Infantile swallow is an autonomic reflex in infants where suckling and swallowing occur together. Mature swallow develops around ages 4-5 as chewing and swallowing of semisolids and solids is added. It involves relaxation of the lips, placement of the tongue behind the upper teeth, and occlusion of the back teeth during swallowing. The phases of deglutition begin with food in the mouth and involve oral preparation, movement of the bolus into the pharynx by

1. DEGLUTITION
PREPARED BY:-PRIANKA DODIA

2. What is deglutition or swallowing?
 The series of coordinated muscle contraction
that moves a bolus of food from the oral cavity
through the esophagus to the stomach.
 It is an important function carried out by
stomatognathic system.( consists of the mouth,
jaws, and closely associated structures)

3. Types
 Infantile swallow
 Mature swallow or adult swallow

4. INFANTILE SWALLOW
 Infants swallow food by
suckling. This is an
autonomic reflex in human
beings.
 In infants, suckling and
swallowing proceed
together.

5. Mechanism of infantile swallow
Breastfeeding
infant lips close around the areola of the breast
Tongue protrudes to the lower lip and forms a spoon like closure around nipples
Mandible supports the lip and tongue and applies pressure
Tongue is lowered and a vaccum is created while the mandible moves back
Milk is directed to the pharynx by the peristaltic movement of tongue

7. Characteristics
 Lips are sealed and appear stiff
 Tongue is abnormally large and is caught between maxillary and
mandibular gumpads
 There is no harmonious relationship between the maxilla and the
mandible
 Absence of normal seal
 There is no harmonious relationship between cranial and facial structures

8. MATURE SWALLOWING
 Mature swallow develops around 4-5 years
 Maturation of swallow pattern occurs with the addition of
semisolid and solid food to the diet.

9. Characteristics
 Cessation of lip activity, i.e. lips relaxed
 Placement of tongue tip against the palate and behind upper incisors.
 Posterior teeth into occlusion during swallow
 Downward and forward mandibular growth increases intraoral volume
and vertical growth of the alveolar process changes tongue posture.
 Mandible stabilized by contraction of muscles of mastication.

10. Phases of deglutition
 Starts as soon as food is ingested
 The liquid or crushed food are placed
in swallow preparatory phase
 Mouth is sealed by lip or tongue.
Oral phase
 The soft palate raise to seal off the nasal
cavity and the posterior part of the tongue
drops down.
 Thus smooth path for bolus is created and it
is pushed into pharynx by peristaltic action
of the tongue.
Preparatory phase

11.  Begins as soon as food passes
through the faucial pillars.
 As the food reaches the
pharyngeal walls there is a reflex
upward movement of the entire
pharyngeal complex.
 When the pharyngeal walls
touches the soft palate a
peristaltic movement sets up to
move the food down.
Pharyngeal phase Oesophageal phase
 Food passes through the
cricopharyngeal sphincter
through oesophagus to
stomach

13. VIDEO