Which are the correct stages of swallowing?

The correct stages of swallowing are anticipatory, oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal.

The anticipatory stage involves the preparation for eating, during which one may think about food and prepare the mouth and digestive system for the intake of nutrition. The oral stage follows, where food is manipulated in the mouth, chewed, and mixed with saliva to form a bolus.

Next is the pharyngeal stage, which is crucial for safely directing the bolus towards the esophagus while preventing it from entering the airway. Finally, the esophageal stage involves the passage of the bolus through the esophagus to the stomach, utilizing peristaltic movements.

This progression is essential for effective swallowing and highlights the coordinated effort of oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal functions, with the anticipatory phase serving as a critical precursor to the physical act of swallowing.