Where can the pharyngeal swallow be triggered and still be considered timely in a healthy person?

• A. Anterior faucial pillar
• B. Valleculae
• C. Pyriform sinuses
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

The timing of the pharyngeal swallow is driven by sensory input from multiple regions of the oropharynx, and in a healthy person any of these sites can initiate the reflex promptly. The anterior faucial arches are a common, highly sensitive trigger point; stimulation here often prompts a quick pharyngeal swallow. The valleculae—where the base of the tongue contacts the posterior pharyngeal wall—also provide a strong cue to trigger the swallow. The pyriform sinuses, the side recesses beside the laryngeal inlet, can likewise initiate the pharyngeal phase as the bolus moves through the pharynx. When the trigger occurs at any of these locations and the swallow begins in time to protect the airway, it is considered timely. So triggering can occur at all of these sites in a healthy swallow.