Lung volume effects on pharyngeal swallowing physiology

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 95; no. 6; pp. 2211 - 2217
• Main Authors: Gross, Roxann Diez, Atwood, Charles W., Jr, Grayhack, Judith P, Shaiman, Susan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Am Physiological Soc 01.12.2003; American Physiological Society
• Subjects: Adult; Air Pressure; Anatomy & physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Deglutition - physiology; Deglutition Disorders - physiopathology; Electromyography; Female; Fluoroscopy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Lung - anatomy & histology; Lung - physiology; Lung Volume Measurements; Lungs; Male; Pharynx - diagnostic imaging; Pharynx - physiology; Physiology; Respiratory Mechanics - physiology; Respiratory system; Throat; Tracheostomy; subglottic air pressure; Mechanoreceptor; Esophageal disease; Swallowing; Pressure; Lung volume; Vertebrata; subglottic mechanoreceptors; Mammalia; deglutition; Digestive diseases; Dysphagia; dynamic
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00316.2003

1 Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology and 3 Pulmonary Section, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh 15240; and 2 Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260 Submitted 27 March 2003 ; accepted in final form 7 August 2003 The experiment was a prospective, repeated-measures design intended to determine how the variation of lung volume affects specific measures of swallowing physiology. Swallows were recorded in 28 healthy subjects, who ranged in age from 21 to 40 yr (mean age of 29 yr), by using simultaneous videofluoroscopy, bipolar intramuscular electromyography, and respiratory inductance plethysmography. Each subject swallowed three standardized pudding-like consistency boluses at three randomized lung volumes: total lung capacity, functional residual capacity, and residual volume. The results showed that pharyngeal activity duration of deglutition for swallows produced at residual volume was significantly longer than those occurring at total lung capacity or at functional residual capacity. No significant differences were found for bolus transit time or intramuscular electromyography of the superior constrictor. The results of this experiment lend support to the hypothesis that the respiratory system may have a regulatory function related to swallowing and that positive subglottic air pressure may be important for swallowing integrity. Eventually, new treatment paradigms for oropharyngeal dysphagia that are based on respiratory physiology may be developed. deglutition; dysphagia; dynamic; subglottic mechanoreceptors; subglottic air pressure Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: R. D. Gross, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Dept. of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University Drive C (132A-U), Pittsburgh, PA 15240 (E-mail: Roxann.Gross{at}med.va.gov ).