Neurogenic, Esophageal, and Surgical Dysphagia Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards mapping out key swallowing phases, neurogenic conditions, esophageal pathologies, and surgical dysphagia terminology based on the provided study guide.

Oral preparatory phase

The swallowing phase whose main job is to chew and form or contain the bolus, commonly presenting with poor lip closure, poor chewing, or food falling out.

Oral transit phase

The swallowing phase responsible for moving the bolus backward into the pharynx, commonly affected by poor lingual control or lingual weakness.

Pharyngeal phase

The swallowing phase whose main job is to move the bolus through the pharynx and protect the airway, commonly presenting with aspiration, residue, or delayed swallow.

Esophageal phase

The swallowing phase that moves the bolus to the stomach, commonly associated with stasis, reflux, obstruction, or motility problems.

Preprandial aspiration

Aspiration occurring BEFORE the swallow, typically indicating a bolus control problem such as tongue weakness, poor oral control, or premature spillage.

Periprandial aspiration

Aspiration occurring DURING the swallow, typically indicating an airway protection problem such as reduced laryngeal closure or reduced laryngeal elevation.

Postprandial aspiration

Aspiration occurring AFTER the swallow, typically caused by pharyngeal residue remaining in the valleculae or pyriform sinuses that spills into the airway.

Left hemisphere CVA

A cerebrovascular accident that can cause oral and pharyngeal weakness, where severe weakness across all phases may show significant improvement the next day.

Brainstem stroke

A stroke affecting brainstem cranial nerve pathways, resulting in swallowing initiation problems, poor airway protection, cranial nerve deficits, and brief swallowing events.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A progressive motor neuron disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness and loss of cranial nerve nuclei, often causing tongue weakness, pharyngeal residue, and preprandial aspiration.

Lingual pumping

Repetitive pumping movements of the tongue during the oral phase to move the bolus backward, serving as a hallmark diagnostic observation for Parkinson's disease.

Myasthenia gravis

A neuromuscular disorder characterized by muscle fatigability, where swallowing ability noticeably worsens toward the end of a meal due to repeated muscle use.

Oral-tactile agnosia

The inability to recognize or identify materials in the mouth through tactile sensation, commonly observed in moderate-stage dementia.

Orbicularis oris weakness

Weakness in the lip muscles that causes impaired anterior bolus containment, resulting in anterior bolus loss and oral incontinence.

Buccinator weakness

Weakness in the cheek muscles that impairs lateral bolus containment, leading to lateral residue accumulating in the sulci.

Pharyngeal residue

Material remaining in pharyngeal structures such as the valleculae or pyriform sinuses after a swallow, often due to pharyngeal weakness or reduced UES opening.

Achalasia

A motility disorder characterized by the failure of a sphincter, such as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) or upper esophageal sphincter (UES), to relax appropriately.

Diffuse esophageal spasm

Uncoordinated, spastic contractions of the esophagus that typically produce a characteristic 'corkscrew esophagus' appearance on diagnostic imaging.

Zenker's diverticulum

An esophageal pouch where food collects, classically causing a feeling of fullness in the throat, regurgitation of undigested food, and halitosis.

Anatomic stenosis

A narrowing or stricture of the esophageal lumen that obstructs bolus passage, often caused by GERD, inflammation, scar tissue, or tumors.

Café coronary

Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) achalasia characterized by food impaction at or near the UES, creating potential airway obstruction.

Barrett's esophagus

A precancerous condition of the distal esophagus associated with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Presbyesophagus

Age-related changes in esophageal motility, peristalsis, and contraction coordination.

Nutcracker esophagus

An esophageal motility disorder characterized by excessively strong, high-amplitude esophageal contractions.

Cricopharyngeal bar

An abnormal prominence or thickening at the level of the cricopharyngeus muscle visible on imaging.

Local resection

Surgical removal of a tumor along with a limited area of surrounding tissue in order to preserve adjacent structures.

Composite resection

Extensive surgical excision of a tumor along with surrounding structures and tissues.

Anterior cervical spinal surgery dysphagia

Postoperative pharyngeal dysphagia caused primarily by local swelling and edema interfering with bolus transport through the pharynx.