Coordination of Pharyngeal and Esophageal Phases of Swallowing

Although swallowing has been reviewed extensively, the coordination of the phases of swallowing have not. The phases are controlled by the brainstem, but peripheral factors help coordinate the phases. The occurrence, magnitude, and duration of esophageal phase depends upon peripheral feedback activated by the bolus. The esophageal phase does not occur without peripheral feedback from the esophagus. This feedback is mediated by esophageal slowly-adapting mucosal tension receptors through the recurrent and superior laryngeal nerves. A similar reflex mediated by the same peripheral pathway is the activation of swallowing by stimulation of the cervical esophagus. This reflex occurs primarily in human infants and animals, and this reflex may be important for protecting against aspiration after esophago-pharyngeal reflux. Not only are there inter-phase excitatory processes, but also inhibitory processes. A significant inhibitory process is deglutitive inhibition. When one swallows faster than peristalsis ends, peristalsis is inhibited by the new pharyngeal phase. This process prevents the ongoing esophageal peristaltic wave from blocking the bolus being pushed into the esophagus by the new wave. The esophageal phase returns during the last swallow of the sequence. This process is probably mediated by mucosal tension receptors through the superior laryngeal nerves. A similar reflex exists, the pharyngo-esophageal inhibitory reflex, but studies indicate that it is controlled by a different neural pathway. The pharyngo-esophageal inhibitory reflex is mediated by mucosal tension receptors through the glossopharyngeal nerve. In summary, there are significant peripheral processes that contribute to swallowing, whereby one phase of swallowing significantly affects the other.