Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

In which phase of the swallowing process would a patient with drooling or insufficiently chewed food likely have a problem?

1. Pharyngeal

2. Oral

3. Esophageal

4. Gastric

The correct answer is: Oral

The oral phase of swallowing involves the preparation and movement of food within the mouth. It includes actions such as chewing, mixing food with saliva, and forming a cohesive bolus that can be effectively swallowed. When patients experience drooling or have insufficiently chewed food, it indicates a disruption in their ability to properly manage these actions. This phase requires intact oral motor function, sensory feedback, and coordination to ensure that food is adequately prepared for swallowing. In contrast, issues in the pharyngeal phase typically relate more to the movement of the bolus down the throat, while the esophageal phase involves the transport of the bolus through the esophagus to the stomach. The gastric phase pertains to digestion in the stomach itself. Since the question specifically mentions drooling and issues related to chewing, it highlights difficulties that are rooted in the oral stage of the swallowing process. Therefore, identifying the oral phase as the point where these problems arise accurately reflects the physiological aspects of swallowing.