my son-in-law is a policeman and was shot through the neck. one vocal cord is paralyzed and the doctors said it prohibits him from being able to swallow. i looked up vocal cord in gray's anantomy but didn't see anything related to swallowing. he has nerve damage. he has many other injuries, as he was shot three times, but this one we don't understand. anyone in the medical field out there?
2007-01-05 08:44:53 · 4 answers · asked by layobro7 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
The vocal cord terminology is laymen's terms. The ability to vocalize requires many different muscles...tongue (cranial nerve XI), face (cranial nerve VII), epiglottis (cranial nerve IX/X), larynx (bone)... there is a number of structures involved in speaking.
Maybe the doctor is saying the epiglottis is paralyzed... that is highly involved in swallowing. There is a reflex triggered with contact to the back mouth... cranial nerve nine (reflex) and then cranial nerve ten (swallow action).
Ask the doctor the specific name of the nerve... and then look that up. :-)
2007-01-05 11:48:34 · answer #1 · answered by LifeIsPassion 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Swallowing occurs in three stages: mouth --> pharynx --> esophagus. In the pharynx stage of swallowing, the presence of food or water stimulates a nerve that causes muscles to automatically close the larynx. The vocal cords are in the larynx. I am guessing that the damage done to the vocal cords must also affect the muscle or nerve that closes the larynx.
2007-01-05 09:10:24 · answer #2 · answered by formerly_bob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there is paralysis of the vocal cord, there could be damage to the nerves controlling swallowing. They're all cranial nerves (IX, X, XI, and XII).
2007-01-05 13:59:22 · answer #3 · answered by Intrepyd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vocal cords have nothing to do with swallowing..
2007-01-05 08:52:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋