Episode 137: The Digestive System
The Science of Everything Podcast
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The Different Components of Swallowing
Swallowing is the process in which a human allows a substance to pass from the mouth to the pharynx and then into the esophagus. When we swallow our tongue pushes the bolus of food back and downwards and at the same time the uvula pushes back and blocks the nasal passage so that it doesn't go down the windpipe. The epiglottis bends backwards and down to block the entrance to the trachea when we're swallowing as well. So this is quite an intricate process although normally we don't think about it. I suppose unless it goes wrong and we start to choke as there's quite a few different components that have to come together.
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