Epiglottis Swiss

The process of swallowing is possible because of the special coordination of epiglottis (it closes the laryngeal inlet during larynx elevation by surrounding muscles) and tongue (food or fluid is being pushed backward by its movements). The character of the act is involuntary and needed to prevent aspiration. Hyaline cartilage builds the epiglottis. It is worth to mention that it never calcifies due to its role - it must be mobile upon squeezing by the pharyngeal muscles. Dye or dyed semisolid food (like puree) are used to test this phase of swallowing with flexibe endoscopescope pass through the nose. To determine the defects in swallowing we assess: foods residual, frequency of swallowing to completely clear the test material and presence of penetriation. This particular video presents the epiglottis activity during second phase of swallowing as the patient swallows his own saliva during an examination of the larynx. During swallowing act we can observe epiglottis swissrolling and infolding.