Faculty Collaboration Database

Kinematic and dynamic characteristics of solid pellet movement during the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1996 Sep;105(9):716-23

Date

09/01/1996

Pubmed ID

8800059

DOI

10.1177/000348949610500909

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0029786906 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   10 Citations

Abstract

Information on solid particle movement through the pharynx, in addition to its physiologic importance, has relevance to the swallowing of medications in pill form. The purpose of this study was to determine the kinematics of a solid particle during the oral-pharyngeal phase of swallowing. We used a concurrent manometric-videofluoroscopic technique and identified two distinct zones of increasing bolus velocity, one at the tongue base and the other at the pharyngo-upper esophageal sphincter (UES) region. Velocity decreased significantly (p < .05), to 9.0 +/- 1.0 cm/s, while the bolus traversed the area located between the tip of the horizontal epiglottis and the pharyngeal wall. The velocity of the liquid barium bolus head was similar to that of the solid barium pellet. The average bolus tail velocity was relatively constant. The acceleration of the barium pellet was temporally associated with development of an incrementally decreasing pressure distal to the location of the pellet in the hypopharynx and across the UES. In conclusion, the kinematics of a solid particle are similar to those of the head of a liquid bolus, but both are different from bolus tail kinematics. During the pharyngeal phase of swallowing, the area located ahead of the bolus exhibits an incrementally decreasing pressure, caudally. This may facilitate bolus transport and contribute to airway protection.

Author List

Kern MK, Ren J, Arndorfer RC, Hofmann CL, Shaker R

Authors

Mark K. Kern Research Scientist II in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Reza Shaker MD Assoc Provost, Sr Assoc Dean, Ctr Dir, Chief, Prof in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Barium Sulfate
Deglutition
Esophagus
Fluoroscopy
Humans
Male
Manometry
Pharynx
Pressure
Videotape Recording