Introduction

Swallowing, or deglutition, refers to the movement of liquids or solids from the mouth to the stomach via the pharynx and oesophagus. Swallowing starts to develop in utero from around 15 weeks gestational age. It continues to develop after birth, ultimately resulting in the conscious control of swallowing. Multiple organ systems are involved in swallowing, including the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular and respiratory systems. Normal swallowing requires a coordinated effort of over thirty muscles, the central nervous system, and five cranial nerves. Other key anatomical structures involved in this process are the nose, nasal cavity, oral cavity, and pharynx. This course provides foundational knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of swallowing.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• differentiate between the anatomical structures of swallowing in infants and older children
• describe the primary function of at least five muscles and three cranial nerves involved in swallowing
• identify the main elements that occur during the four phases of swallowing

Target audience

This course is aimed at rehabilitation professionals, students and assistants including but not limited to Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Rehabilitation Doctors, Rehabilitation Nurses, Prosthetists, Orthotists, Psychologists, Audiologists, Dietetics, Social Workers. Community Health Workers, Nurses or Medical Doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.

Practicalities

• Availability - this course is online and can be completed on your own schedule.
• Hours of Learning - No deadlines are applied to this course and it can be started and completed in your own time according to your personal schedule. We expect the required elements to take around 1.5-2 hours depending on your schedule and learning style. Additionally there are many optional resources provided and if you choose to review these the course could take longer to complete.
• Types of Activities - This course includes instructional and/or practical videos, reading activities, AI supported learning activities, reflection, evaluation forms, a quiz and additional resources.
• Certificates - At the end of the course, when you have completed all of the required elements, you will be able to download a certificate of completion and 1.3 Plus points will be added to your personalised learning dashboard.

Instructor financial and non-financial disclosures

Srishti Banerjee: No relevant relationships disclosed by instructor.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Physiopedia Plus is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age in any aspect of our continuing education services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in our programmes. Participants who require accommodations or have special needs are encouraged to contact us with details so that we can make all reasonable efforts to meet these requirements.