title: Coordination between respiration and deglutition in a preterm infant mammal, Sus scrofa.
abstract: In adult mammals, the path of a swallowed bolus of solid food crosses the laryngeal opening, so that coordination between respiration and deglutition is critical for airway protection. The nature of such coordination in preterm, low-birth-weight infants with immature nervous systems, is not clear. Using preterm pigs as a model, two measures of respiration were recorded and then coordinated with a high-resolution cineradiographic record of swallowing. Swallows, divided into three distinct events, began before inhalation ended, but expiration did not start until after the milk had passed around the laryngeal opening. These results support the idea that a high degree of coordination between swallowing and respiration exists in preterm infant pigs, although other aspects of the nervous system have not fully matured.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, OH 45221-0006, USA.
authors.forename: R Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: German
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Crompton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCluskey
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Thexton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002933:Cineradiography; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007830:Larynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009666:Nose / Q000502:physiology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology*; D013391:Sucking Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature