The process of swallowing used 50 pairs of muscles and to move food from the oral cavity into the stomach. This process has three stages.

In the first stage, the tongue moves the food around the mouth for chewing, this process breaks down the food and adds saliva. The combination of the masticated food and saliva prepare it for swallowing. The tongue then gathers the material for swallowing.

Once the food has been gathered and is in the back of the mouth, the swallowing reflex is triggered. The food then moves through the pharynx, and the larynx closes to keep food out of the lungs.

Once food or liquid has entered the esophagus, the third phase has begun. Fro the esophagus, the food is carried into the stomach ("Dysphagia," n.d.).