Approach to Dysphagia and Odynophagia

Phase

Characteristics

Oral preparatory 

• Chewing breaks down food bolus to appropriate size and consistency
• Tongue then moves bolus, lifts hard palate, and forces bolus into upper pharynx
• Voluntary control through CN V, VII, and IX

Pharyngeal 

• Bolus moves into esophagus by pharyngeal peristalsis
• Involuntary control mediated by CN IX, X, and XII

Esophageal 

• Peristalsis of esophagus combines with lower esophageal sphincter relaxation to direct bolus into stomach