Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Deglutition

Deglutition

Swallowing, otherwise known as deglutition, facilitates the transport of food from the mouth to the stomach. It is a multifaceted process that involves both the tongue and the muscles of the throat and esophagus. Saliva and mucus aid in this process, which takes approximately 4 to 8 seconds for semi-solid or solid food and around 1 second for liquids or very soft food.
Swallowing can be divided into three stages: the voluntary phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase. Although the...

Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System I: Ingestion and Propulsion

Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System I: Ingestion and Propulsion

The physiology of the gastrointestinal system begins with ingestion as food enters the mouth.

Neural Regulation

Neural Regulation

Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.

Oral Cavity

Oral Cavity

The oral cavity, or the mouth, is a complex structure in humans that plays a vital role in our day-to-day lives. Its role is not only in chewing and swallowing food; it also plays a role in speech and facial expressions.
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...

Brainstem: Control Centers of Medulla

Brainstem: Control Centers of Medulla

The medulla oblongata is a crucial part of the brainstem responsible for controlling various autonomic and involuntary functions. It contains several nuclei, including the olivary, cuneate, gracile, and solitary nuclei.
Olivary Nucleus
The olivary nucleus, or inferior olivary nucleus, is located within the ventrolateral part of the medulla oblongata. It is primarily involved in motor coordination and motor learning. The olivary nucleus receives input from the spinal cord, cerebellum, and motor...

Salivary Glands and Saliva

Salivary Glands and Saliva

The salivary glands, of which there are three pairs known as the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands, play a crucial role in maintaining oral health and initiating the digestive process. Positioned near the ears, beneath the masseter muscle, the parotid glands secrete saliva into the oral cavity through the parotid duct of Stensen. Meanwhile, the submandibular glands, located on the floor of the mouth, secrete saliva through channels named submandibular ducts. The sublingual glands,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Selective stimulation of human tooth-pulp with a new stable method: responses and validation.

Muscle & nerve·2013

Same author

Aphasia--the hidden disability.

Dental update·2012

Same author

Forces, movements and reflexes produced by pushing human teeth.

Experimental brain research·2012

Same author

Quantification of jaw reflexes evoked by natural tooth contact in human subjects.

Archives of oral biology·2011

Same author

The role of the dentist in sleep disorders.

Dental update·2011

Same author

The inhibitory effect of a chewing task on a human jaw reflex.

Muscle & nerve·2010

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models

Published on: March 1, 2015

Mastication and swallowing: 2. control.

Samuel W Cadden¹, Robert Orchardson

¹Section of Clinical Dental Sciences,The Dental School, University of Dundee, Park Place, Dundee DD1 4HN.

|October 9, 2009

Summary

Understanding the brainstem

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Dentistry

Background:

Neural mechanisms for chewing and swallowing originate in the brainstem.
These functions are influenced by conscious processes and peripheral nerve feedback.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the neural control of the masticatory system.
To explore the link between craniomandibular dysfunctions and impaired masticatory control.

Main Methods:

Literature review of neural control mechanisms.
Analysis of clinical relevance to dentistry.

Main Results:

Chewing and swallowing are controlled by brainstem centers.
Craniomandibular dysfunctions may relate to impaired neural control.

More Related Videos

An In Vitro Preparation for Eliciting and Recording Feeding Motor Programs with Physiological Movements in Aplysia californica

An In Vitro Preparation for Eliciting and Recording Feeding Motor Programs with Physiological Movements in Aplysia californica

Published on: December 5, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models

Published on: March 1, 2015

An In Vitro Preparation for Eliciting and Recording Feeding Motor Programs with Physiological Movements in Aplysia californica

An In Vitro Preparation for Eliciting and Recording Feeding Motor Programs with Physiological Movements in Aplysia californica

Published on: December 5, 2012

Conclusions:

Dentists need to understand neuromuscular control of the masticatory apparatus.
This knowledge is vital for patient health and managing jaw-related disorders.