Manometric characteristics of glossopalatal sphincter. Dig Dis Sci 1990 Feb;35(2):161-6
Date
02/01/1990Pubmed ID
2302972DOI
10.1007/BF01536757Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0025190003 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 19 CitationsAbstract
When a liquid bolus is held in the mouth, the posterior tongue and soft palate pinch together to prevent premature spillage of the bolus into the oropharynx. We propose that this glossopalatal closure acts as a glossopalatal sphincter (GPS). In this investigation, we studied glossopalatal closure by obtaining concurrent manometric and radiographic recordings of barium swallows in healthy volunteers. Manometry was done by both a continuous pull through method and also by a stationary catheter technique using a ribbon catheter with multiple sideholes spaced at 1-cm intervals. The results showed that when the mouth was loaded with a fluid bolus, the closed glossopalatal segment generated an asymmetric high-pressure zone with greater pressures toward the tongue and palate than laterally. With swallowing, the glossopalatal sphincter high-pressure zone relaxed and the glossopalatal sphincter opened to allow barium to flow from the mouth into the oropharynx. We conclude that the glossopalatal sphincter functions as a physiological sphincter in that it (1) generates a sustained high-pressure zone and closure when a liquid bolus is held in the mouth and (2) relaxes and opens with swallowing.
Author List
Dantas RO, Dodds WJ, Massey BT, Shaker R, Cook IJAuthors
Benson T. Massey MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinReza Shaker MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Deglutition
Humans
Manometry
Mouth
Muscle Relaxation
Palate, Soft
Pressure
Radiography
Respiration
Tongue
