Swallowing

Swallowing, sometimes called deglutition in scientific contexts, is the process in the human or animal body that makes something pass from the mouth, to the pharynx, and into the esophagus, while shutting the epiglottis. Swallowing is an important part of eating and drinking. If the process fails and the material (such as food, drink, or medicine) goes through the trachea, then choking or pulmonary aspiration can occur. In the human body the automatic temporary closing of the epiglottis is controlled by the swallowing reflex.

The portion of food, drink, or other material that will move through the neck in one swallow is called a bolus.

In humans

Coordination and control

Eating and swallowing are complex neuromuscular activities consisting essentially of three phases, an oral, pharyngeal and esophageal phase. Each phase is controlled by a different neurological mechanism. The oral phase, which is entirely voluntary, is mainly controlled by the medial temporal lobes and limbic system of the cerebral cortex with contributions from the motor cortex and other cortical areas. The pharyngeal swallow is started by the oral phase and subsequently is co-ordinated by the swallowing center on the medulla oblongata and pons. The reflex is initiated by touch receptors in the pharynx as a bolus of food is pushed to the back of the mouth by the tongue, or by stimulation of the palate (palatal reflex).

Bush

Bush may refer to:

People

Places, United States

Places, elsewhere

Organisations

Bushing

Bushing may refer to:

Bush (surname)

The surname Bush is an English surname, derived from either the Old English word "busc" or the Old Norse "buskr," both of which mean "bush," a shrub.

Variations on the English spelling "Bush" include: Bushe, Bosch, Boush, Boushe, Busch, Bussche, Buscher, Bysh, and Bysshe.

The Bush family has held a family seat in Yorkshire, Northern England.

People with the surname Bush name include:

Members of the United States political Bush family