Why cant't you swallow more than once in a row?

Question

Anatomy teacher said it was impossible.

Answer 1

well hes' wrong...i just did it

Answer 2

You can swallow more than once in a row, in a sense. Think about what happens when you chug a lug a drink of soda. The larynx usually remains elevated and the airway remains closed as you swallow multiple times. What you teacher may be referring to is the fact that you can't swallow multiple times without taking food/liquid. If your just swallowing your saliva you'll run out very quickly and eventually you won't be able to swallow because you have nothing to swallow. No moisture, nada

Answer 3

As an automatic defence mechanism, to prevent choking on food or drink, and allow time to breathe. 2 seconds is the closest I can get between swallows: animals that didn't have this trait would have been eliminated from the breeding population many millions of years ago.

Answer 4

You'd probably choke to death, since the epiglotis can only close once with each swallow. That's the little flap of tissue that keeps food and drink in the esophagus instead of the bronchial tube. If enough got in your lungs, it could kill you by asphyxiation.