SPAUD 523 Part 1 questions with
verified answers to pass!
What is dysphagia? - correct answer ✔✔Dysphagia is a condition resulting from an interruption in either
eating pleasure, or in the maintenance of nutrition and hydration
What is the prevalence of dysphagia? - correct answer ✔✔Nearly one third of patients hospitalized
experience oropharyngeal or esophageal dysphagia or their illness precludes oral alimentation
What are the complications and cost of dysphagia? - correct answer ✔✔Aspiration can be attributed to
chest infection, malnutrition, weight loss, increased LOS, hospital readmissions, and death
What dictates the swallow? - correct answer ✔✔The swallow is dictated by a complex interplay of
cranial nerves of the brain stem governed by neural regulatory mechanisms in the medulla as well as
sensorimotor and limbic cortical systems.
What is the total time of a normal swallow? - correct answer ✔✔8-11 seconds
What is the shortest and yet most complex phase of the swallow? - correct answer ✔✔The pharyngeal
phase, which includes the involvement of 6 cranial nerves and 4 cervical nerves
What do the supratentorial structures do? - correct answer ✔✔They modify brainstem responses which
in turn manages/modulates the swallow
What are the key supratentorial swallow centers? - correct answer ✔✔Primary motor cortex, premotor
cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, insula, thalamus, basal ganglia, and the anterior cingulated
What is the nucleus tractus solitarius? - correct answer ✔✔Takes in sensory (afferent) information and is
located in the dorsal region of the brainstem medulla. Sensory information enters the brainstem via the
NTS and integrates into the motor plan of the swallow and transmits to the motor nucleus for task
execution.
, What is the nucleus ambiguous? - correct answer ✔✔Sends out a motor (efferent) response and is
located in the ventral region of the brainstem medulla. It sends out neural commands to control muscles
in the phraynx, larynx, and esophagus
What is the Central Pattern Generator? - correct answer ✔✔It is located in the brainstem and is critical
for basic motor plans of the pharyngeal swallow (a hub for cranial nerves:they cluster in this region)
What is the medullary circuitry in the CPG? - correct answer ✔✔Regulates the pharygeal and esophageal
stages while coordinating the swallow with respiration
Can sequential muscle activation occur in the absence of sensory feedback? - correct answer ✔✔Yes
How does lateralization affect the swallow? - correct answer ✔✔May be task dependent. The RH may
activate the volitional swallow and the LH may activate the reflexive swallow. Recovery from neural insult
is associated with cortical reorganization of the nondominant hemisphere.
What CNs form part of the NTS? - correct answer ✔✔Facial, Glossopharyngeal, and Vagus. Afferent
information from the pharynx and larynx travel through these nerves.
Which CNs form part of the NA? - correct answer ✔✔Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, and Spinal Accessory.
Some connections from Hypoglossal, Facial, and Trigeminal will also effect the swallow.
What are the four aspects of neural control of the swallow? - correct answer ✔✔1. Cranial nerves have
afferent sensory and efferent motor fibers.
2. The brain stem receives information from the cerebral, midbrain, and cerebellar fibers. Input from
cortex can influence the swallow generated in the brainstem
3. The brainstem swallowing centers are paired and exist within the medullary reticular formation
4. CNs relate sensory info. up to NTS, and motor responses come from the NA. These two regions create
the swallow center in the medulla of the brainstem.
How long is the esophagus? - correct answer ✔✔25 cm
verified answers to pass!
What is dysphagia? - correct answer ✔✔Dysphagia is a condition resulting from an interruption in either
eating pleasure, or in the maintenance of nutrition and hydration
What is the prevalence of dysphagia? - correct answer ✔✔Nearly one third of patients hospitalized
experience oropharyngeal or esophageal dysphagia or their illness precludes oral alimentation
What are the complications and cost of dysphagia? - correct answer ✔✔Aspiration can be attributed to
chest infection, malnutrition, weight loss, increased LOS, hospital readmissions, and death
What dictates the swallow? - correct answer ✔✔The swallow is dictated by a complex interplay of
cranial nerves of the brain stem governed by neural regulatory mechanisms in the medulla as well as
sensorimotor and limbic cortical systems.
What is the total time of a normal swallow? - correct answer ✔✔8-11 seconds
What is the shortest and yet most complex phase of the swallow? - correct answer ✔✔The pharyngeal
phase, which includes the involvement of 6 cranial nerves and 4 cervical nerves
What do the supratentorial structures do? - correct answer ✔✔They modify brainstem responses which
in turn manages/modulates the swallow
What are the key supratentorial swallow centers? - correct answer ✔✔Primary motor cortex, premotor
cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, insula, thalamus, basal ganglia, and the anterior cingulated
What is the nucleus tractus solitarius? - correct answer ✔✔Takes in sensory (afferent) information and is
located in the dorsal region of the brainstem medulla. Sensory information enters the brainstem via the
NTS and integrates into the motor plan of the swallow and transmits to the motor nucleus for task
execution.
, What is the nucleus ambiguous? - correct answer ✔✔Sends out a motor (efferent) response and is
located in the ventral region of the brainstem medulla. It sends out neural commands to control muscles
in the phraynx, larynx, and esophagus
What is the Central Pattern Generator? - correct answer ✔✔It is located in the brainstem and is critical
for basic motor plans of the pharyngeal swallow (a hub for cranial nerves:they cluster in this region)
What is the medullary circuitry in the CPG? - correct answer ✔✔Regulates the pharygeal and esophageal
stages while coordinating the swallow with respiration
Can sequential muscle activation occur in the absence of sensory feedback? - correct answer ✔✔Yes
How does lateralization affect the swallow? - correct answer ✔✔May be task dependent. The RH may
activate the volitional swallow and the LH may activate the reflexive swallow. Recovery from neural insult
is associated with cortical reorganization of the nondominant hemisphere.
What CNs form part of the NTS? - correct answer ✔✔Facial, Glossopharyngeal, and Vagus. Afferent
information from the pharynx and larynx travel through these nerves.
Which CNs form part of the NA? - correct answer ✔✔Glossopharyngeal, Vagus, and Spinal Accessory.
Some connections from Hypoglossal, Facial, and Trigeminal will also effect the swallow.
What are the four aspects of neural control of the swallow? - correct answer ✔✔1. Cranial nerves have
afferent sensory and efferent motor fibers.
2. The brain stem receives information from the cerebral, midbrain, and cerebellar fibers. Input from
cortex can influence the swallow generated in the brainstem
3. The brainstem swallowing centers are paired and exist within the medullary reticular formation
4. CNs relate sensory info. up to NTS, and motor responses come from the NA. These two regions create
the swallow center in the medulla of the brainstem.
How long is the esophagus? - correct answer ✔✔25 cm
