Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Minimally Invasive Murine Laryngoscopy for Close-Up Imaging of Laryngeal Motion During Breathing and Swallowing
Published on: December 1, 2023
Upper esophageal sphincter opening during swallow in stroke survivors
Youngsun Kim1, Taeok Park, Elizabeth Oommen
1From the Communication Sciences and Disorders, Ohio University, Athens (YK, TP); Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan (EO); and College of Health Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina (GM).
Objective:
Timely and efficient upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening may be critical to safe transport of food or liquid to the stomach and to prevent aspiration during the swallow. The purpose of this study was to examine the temporal and biomechanical characteristics of the UES opening in stroke survivors.
Method:
Maximum duration and width of the UES opening were obtained from 15 stroke survivors with aspiration and 15 stroke survivors with no aspiration. The control group was composed of 15 normal subjects undergoing videofluoroscopic swallowing examinations. The videofluoroscopic swallowing examination protocol was as follows: two swallows of 5 ml thin liquid and two swallows of 10 ml thin liquid. Statistical comparisons were made by repeated measurements of analysis of variance, and the significance level was set at P < 0.025.
Result:
The stroke survivors with aspiration, the stroke survivors without aspiration, and the control group differed significantly for duration of UES opening (P < 0.01) but not maximum width of UES opening.
Conclusion:
Prolonged UES opening may be related to prolonged pharyngeal transition of the bolus and slower UES muscle contraction and hyolaryngeal excursion after stroke.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Deglutition
Swallowing can be divided into three stages: the voluntary phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase. Although the...
Esophagus
The movement of edibles from the pharynx into the esophagus is facilitated by the upper esophageal sphincter, which is formed primarily by the...
Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management
Healthcare providers should gather a comprehensive medical history and conduct a physical examination for diagnosis. If esophageal stricture is...
Esophageal Perforation-I: Introduction
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus....
Upper GI Series: Barium Swallow
Purpose and Procedure
Patients undergoing this procedure ingest a liquid containing barium sulfate with a chalky...
Esophageal Perforation-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Clinical Manifestations:

