Which of the following events would have to occur to allow the bolus of food to go from the region labeled E in the diagram to the region labeled F?
A)The nasopharynx would have to contract to compress the bolus into F.
B)The epiglottis would move out of the way to allow the bolus to enter F.
C)The cardiac sphincter would have to relax.
D)The upper esophageal sphincter would have to relax.
E)None of these events have to occur.

Question

Which of the following events would have to occur to allow the bolus of food to go from the region labeled E in the diagram to the region labeled F? 
A)The nasopharynx would have to contract to compress the bolus into F. 
B)The epiglottis would move out of the way to allow the bolus to enter F. 
C)The cardiac sphincter would have to relax. 
D)The upper esophageal sphincter would have to relax. 
E)None of these events have to occur.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The upper esophageal sphincter must relax in order for the bolus of food to move from region E to F. Option A is incorrect because the nasopharynx is not involved in the swallowing process after the initial stage. Option B is incorrect because the epiglottis prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing and is not responsible for directing food to the esophagus. Option C is incorrect because the cardiac sphincter is located further downstream in the digestive tract and controls the entrance of food into the stomach.

Which of the Following Events Would Have to Occur to Allow