Have your laboratory partner take a swallow from a cup of water. carefully watch the movements in the anterior region of the neck. what steps in the swallowing process did you observe?

The answer is Pharyngeal Phase and Esophageal Phase stages of swallowing. In the pharyngeal phase, the bolus of food is pushed against the epiglottis, which closes the respiratory tract. The upper oesophageal sphincter relaxes and the bolus moves into the esophagus. In the oesophageal phase, the oesophageal sphincter closes when the bolus moves down and peristalsis action takes over to move the food down the oesophagus.