Duration of degluttion apnea
Reading File
Finding Sources
Searching the Web
duration of deglutition apnea physiology seconds
Reading File
The textbook gives the authoritative answer directly. Here is the complete information:
Deglutition Apnea - Duration
Duration: 0.61 to 3.83 seconds (range across individuals)
This comes directly from Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, which states:
"Respiratory apnea associated with swallowing shows considerable variation across individuals, and in one study it ranged from 0.61 to 3.83 seconds."
Key Points
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Duration range | 0.61 - 3.83 seconds |
| Variation | Considerable inter-individual variation |
| Effect of bolus volume | Increases in some individuals, decreases in others |
| Spontaneous swallows | Tend to have a shorter apneic period |
| Timing in respiratory cycle | Most swallows occur during expiration or late inspiration |
| Post-swallow effect | Swallowing resets the respiratory rhythm (no compensatory modification afterward) |
Mechanism
-
Swallowing takes precedence over both respiration and mastication, briefly disrupting their rhythm.
-
The respiratory center in the medulla is directly inhibited by the swallowing (deglutition) center during the pharyngeal phase.
-
This apnea is essential for airway protection - the true vocal folds adduct simultaneously, preventing aspiration.
-
The central pattern generator for swallowing is located in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) and the medullary reticular formation adjacent to the nucleus ambiguus.
-
Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Oral Phase of Deglutition section
This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.