Which side of the brain affects swallowing?
Robert Guerrero
Updated on March 14, 2026
There is an area in the frontal lobe of the left hemisphere called Broca's area. It is next to the region that controls the movement of facial muscles, tongue, jaw and throat.
Subsequently, one may also ask, what brain areas are associated with swallowing?
The voluntary initiation of swallowing takes place in special areas of the cerebral cortex of the brain, called the precentral gyrus (also called the primary motor area), posterior-inferior gyrus and the frontal gyrus.
One may also ask, can a stroke affect your ability to swallow? Sometimes a stroke can damage the parts of your brain that do this. This affects your ability to swallow. Doctors use the term dysphagia to describe problems with swallowing.
Hereof, which cranial nerves are responsible for swallowing?
The cranial nerves associated with the swallowing process are the trigeminal (V), facial (VII), glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X), accessory (XI) - usually not considered - and hypoglossal (XII).
What are three disorders that cause swallowing?
Neurological conditions that can cause swallowing difficulties are: stroke (the most common cause of dysphagia); traumatic brain injury; cerebral palsy; Parkinson disease and other degenerative neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), multiple sclerosis,
Related Question Answers
What nerve controls movement of the head?
Cranial Nerves| Number | Name | Function |
|---|---|---|
| X | Vagus Nerve | Sensory, motor and autonomic functions of viscera (glands, digestion, heart rate) |
| XI | Spinal Accessory Nerve | Controls muscles used in head movement. |
| XII | Hypoglossal Nerve | Controls muscles of tongue |
What type of stroke affects swallowing?
Dysphagia affects the vast majority of acute stroke patients. Although it improves within 2 weeks for most, some face longstanding swallowing problems that place them at risk for pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, and significantly affect quality of life.Which side of the brain controls memory?
Temporal LobeWhich nerve does not play a role in swallowing?
The glossopharyngeal nerve is the main center for swallowing, however, but all three play a role together (along with the facial, trigeminal, and spinal accessory). The olfactory nerve does NOT.Can you lose the ability to swallow?
Why are there swallowing problems? As dementia progresses it affects the area of the brain that controls swallowing. In advanced dementia the person may have a weak swallow or lose the ability to swallow safely. For example, they may cough or choke after swallowing food or drinks.What nerve affects swallowing?
The glossopharyngeal nerve has both a sensory and motor division. The areas innervated include the tongue base and lateral pharyngeal walls, which are important in triggering the reflexive portion of the pharyngeal swallow.What brain areas are involved in language processing?
The areas of the brain necessary for processing language: Broca's area, Wernicke's area, the primary motor cortex, the posterior middle temporal gyrus, and the middle and posterior superior temporal gyrus.What part of the brain is responsible for movement?
The cerebellum (back of brain) is located at the back of the head. Its function is to coordinate voluntary muscle movements and to maintain posture, balance, and equilibrium.Which cranial nerves are important for speech and swallowing?
The trigeminal nerve is essential to different aspects of speech, hearing, and swallowing. It is located in the pons of the brainstem. It is mixed cranial nerve, having both sensory and motor components.Is swallowing a volitional act?
Eating and swallowing are compex behaviors including both volitional and reflexive activities involving more than 30 nerves and muscles.Which cranial nerves are responsible for Eye Movement?
Cranial nerves III (CNIII) (oculomotor), IV (trochlear), and VI (abducens) control the position of the eyeballs; CNIII influences the position of the eyelids and the size of the pupils.What nerve controls balance?
The vestibular nerve is primarily responsible for maintaining body balance and eye movements, while the cochlear nerve is responsible for hearing.What cranial nerves are related directly to the oral cavity?
The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) is responsible for the muscles that determine facial expression, as well as the sensation of taste in the front of the tongue and oral cavity.How many cranial nerves are involved in swallowing?
Information from the swallowing center then is conveyed back to the muscles that help in swallowing through trigeminal (V), facial (VII), glossopharyngeal (IX), vagus (X), and hypoglossal (XII) cranial nerves, with the trigeminal, hypoglossal, and nucleus ambiguus constituting the efferent levels.Is swallowing autonomic?
Swallowing is a complex mechanism using both skeletal muscle (tongue) and smooth muscles of the pharynx and esophagus. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) coordinates this process in the pharyngeal and esophageal phases.What are the 12 cranial nerves and functions?
This article will explore the functions of the cranial nerves and provide a diagram.- Diagram.
- I. Olfactory nerve. The olfactory nerve transmits information to the brain regarding a person's sense of smell.
- II. Optic nerve.
- III. Oculomotor nerve.
- IV. Trochlear nerve.
- V. Trigeminal nerve.
- VI. Abducens nerve.
- VII. Facial nerve.
What nerves are responsible for taste?
The three nerves associated with taste are the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), which provides fibers to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX), which provides fibers to the posterior third of the tongue, and the vagus nerve (cranial nerve X), which provides fibers to theCan a stroke victim learn to swallow again?
Over half of stroke survivors experience dysphagia after their stroke event. Thankfully, the majority of survivors “recover swallowing function within 7 days, and only 11-13% remain dysphagic after six months.”How do you fix swallowing problems?
Treatment for dysphagia includes:- Exercises for your swallowing muscles. If you have a problem with your brain, nerves, or muscles, you may need to do exercises to train your muscles to work together to help you swallow.
- Changing the foods you eat.
- Dilation.
- Endoscopy.
- Surgery.
- Medicines.
What are the signs of dysphagia?
Other signs of dysphagia include:- coughing or choking when eating or drinking.
- bringing food back up, sometimes through the nose.
- a sensation that food is stuck in your throat or chest.
- persistent drooling of saliva.
- being unable to chew food properly.
- a 'gurgly' wet sounding voice when eating or drinking.
Why do stroke patients have difficulty swallowing?
Any neurologic or muscular damage along the deglutitive axes can cause dysphagia. Thus, central causes of dysphagia in stroke patients include damage to the cortex or brain stem, and peripheral causes include damage to the nerves or muscles involved in swallowing.How does a brainstem stroke affect swallowing?
9 Brain stem strokes are less common than cortical lesions but result in the largest swallowing compromise. Brain stem lesions can affect sen- sation of the mouth, tongue, and cheek, timing in the trigger of the pharyngeal swallow, laryngeal elevation, glottic clo- sure, and cricopharyngeal relaxation.What is a swallow test after stroke?
The speech pathologist will check the muscles you use to swallow. They may: Watch how well you chew and swallow different foods and drinks. Request an X-ray to see if food or drink is going into your lungs. This is called a videofluoroscopy (VFS) or a modified barium swallow.What happens if you can't swallow after a stroke?
Your stroke may cause a swallowing disorder called dysphagia. If not identified and managed, it can lead to poor nutrition, pneumonia and disability. Aspiration is a common problem for people with dysphagia.Does aphasia affect swallowing?
Condition: Disorders of language, speech, and swallowing include aphasia, which is disturbance of language skills as the result of brain damage; apraxia of speech, which is a disorder of movements involved in speaking; dysarthria, which includes difficulty in pronouncing words clearly due to muscle paralysis orWhich side of the body is worse to have a stroke?
Stroke usually affects one side of the brain. Movement and sensation for one side of the body is controlled by the opposite side of the brain. This means that if your stroke affected the left side of your brain, you will have problems with the right side of your body.Who treats swallowing disorders?
See your doctor if you're having problems swallowing. Depending on the suspected cause, your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist, a doctor who specializes in treating digestive disorders (gastroenterologist) or a doctor who specializes in diseases of the nervous system (neurologist).Can anxiety cause swallowing issues?
Anxiety or panic attacks can result in a feeling of tightness or a lump in the throat or even a sensation of choking. This can temporarily make swallowing difficult. Other symptoms of anxiety include: nervousness.Why do I feel like I have to keep swallowing?
Share on Pinterest A common cause of the globus sensation is anxiety, stress, or psychological disorders. A symptom of anxiety is frequent swallowing. A doctor may diagnose globus pharyngeus after they have found no signs of a lump or other object lodged in a person's throat.What is the most common cause of dysphagia?
Acid reflux disease is the most common cause of dysphagia. People with acid reflux may have problems in the esophagus, such as an ulcer, a stricture (narrowing of the esophagus), or less likely a cancer causing difficulty swallowing.What do you give someone who is swallowing problems?
The following are some of the permitted foods:- Pureed breads (also called “pre-gelled” breads)
- Smooth puddings, custards, yogurts, and pureed desserts.
- Pureed fruits and well-mashed bananas.
- Pureed meats.
- Souffles.
- Well-moistened mashed potatoes.
- Pureed soups.
- Pureed vegetables without lumps, chunks, or seeds.
