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Bolus position at swallow onset in normal adults: Preliminary observations

Dysphagia volume 4, pages 146–150 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

A “delayed swallowing reflex/response” (i.e., when the swallow reflex is not triggered when the bolus passes the back of the tongue at the anterior faucial arch) Logemann [8] has been widely accepted as an abnormality. Careful review of the literature supports the premise that a “delayed swallowing reflex/response” may in fact be a variation of normal. This paper describes swallowing in normal adults. We report the videofluoroscopic measurements of bolus position at the onset of swallow. A radiopaque marker was affixed to the anterior faucial arch and the distance between the head of the bolus and the anterior faucial arch was measured at the onset of swallow. A statistically significant proportion of swallows (22 of 30) occurred after the head of the bolus passed the anterior faucial arch. This finding suggests that there may be diverse sites for elicitation of the swallowing response/reflex rather than a single site (i.e., the anterior faucial arch). The relevance of this finding to treatment using thermal stimulation is discussed, as is the versatility of the normal pharynx.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    James Johnston M.D., Arthur Siebens M.D. & Joseph French

  2. Speech-Language Pathology Department, The Good Samaritan Hospital, 5601 Loch Raven Boulevard, 21239, Baltimore, MD

    Patricia Linden M.A. (Director) & Donna Tippett M.A.

Authors
  1. Patricia Linden M.A.
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  2. Donna Tippett M.A.
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  3. James Johnston M.D.
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  4. Arthur Siebens M.D.
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  5. Joseph French
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Linden, P., Tippett, D., Johnston, J. et al. Bolus position at swallow onset in normal adults: Preliminary observations. Dysphagia 4, 146–150 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02408037

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02408037

Key words

  • Swallowing reflex
  • Normal swallowing
  • Videofluoroscopy
  • Bolus variation
  • Swallowing posture
  • Dysphagia
  • Swallowing rehabilitation