If this happens chronically, you might have Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD. Ever had heartburn? This occurs when this sphincter isn't working properly and stomach acid manages to splash into the esophagus. It opens and then quickly closes to keep the food from escaping back into the esophagus. At the end of the esophagus, the lower esophageal sphincter lets the food into the stomach. Once the sandwich is in the esophagus, involuntary muscle contractions - or peristalses - push it toward the stomach. So the sandwich pieces will normally slide into the esophagus through the upper esophageal sphincter, a ring-shaped muscle that opens only when food is swallowed. Not to worry, this rarely happens - the act of swallowing closes the epiglottis, a flexible flap over the trachea. So when we say something went down the "wrong pipe," it means it went through the trachea, usually because you were breathing or laughing when you swallowed.
Of course, the correct path is through the esophagus, but sometimes food can take a careless detour.
They then come to a fork in the road: One pathway is the esophagus, which leads to the stomach, and the other follows the trachea, which leads to the lungs. When you swallow, the sandwich pieces slide down your pharynx, also known as the throat.
When you bite into the sandwich, the salivary glands get even more excited and secrete more saliva, making the food moister and easier to swallow.īefore the sandwich even leaves your mouth, an enzyme in your saliva called amylase begins to break down the carbohydrates in the bread. Once the glands have their cue, they get busy secreting juices, making your mouth water.
Before you even take a bite, your nose smells it and signals the brain, which sends word to the nerves controlling your mouth's salivary (spit) glands. Let's say you've picked up a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch.
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