during digestion
2006-10-23 03:10:14 · 5 answers · asked by maha 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
The epiglottis. It covers the windpipe as teh food is going down the oesophagus and opens up when swallowing is complete. I remember in class last year, being told that for that second while you're swallowing, you stop breathing. Or rather that air si resticted to your lungs. That's why you're asked not to chew and talk at teh same time.
2006-10-23 06:08:30 · answer #1 · answered by daixyflexi 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The other muscle which must open up during swallowing is the esophageal sphincter that separates the esophagus from the stomach.
Later, in order for food to leave the stomach and enter the small intestine, the pyloric sphincter must also open and then close.
2006-10-23 03:21:19 · answer #2 · answered by hcbiochem 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the bolus is being pushed down the pharynx. The epiglottis will close the opening leading to the trachea, The bolus can only go down the oesophagus to the stomach by means of peristalsis
2006-10-23 03:14:11 · answer #3 · answered by quinton p 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you are talking about your epiglottis which closes over your trachea (windpipe) so that food does not fall in to your lungs. Also it is not an organ, I think it is a muscle but am not sure. This occurs before digestion though.
2006-10-23 03:13:29 · answer #4 · answered by kevin_21015 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
during swallowing uvula closes internal nasal openingspreventing it to enter nasal cavity,epiglottis closes laryngeal opening,upper n lower esophageal splincters poen
2006-10-23 04:26:35 · answer #5 · answered by DIP 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋