Muscle / Nerves

The act of swallowing is intimately connected to the musculature of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. These structures must execute a complex set of movements in coordination with one another to perform a successful and safe swallow. Importantly, these muscles are under both voluntary and involuntary control, and the disruption of either can result in loss of food passage or airway protection. Therefore, pathologies involving the swallowing muscles involve both the muscles themselves, or the nerves that drive and coordinate them.