Soft Palate Movement During Sucking Behavior

Abstract

To clarify the aspects and role of oropharyngeal closure, soft palate movements during sucking were observed and then assessed by electromyographic and fluoroscopic analyses. Three patterns of sucking movements by the palatoglossus and levator veli palatini muscles were analyzed with electromyographic means in seven healthy adults. Furthermore, a forced sucking maneuver, which required special effort to produce a strong sucking pressure by opening the jaw, was analyzed using lateral fluoroscopy in three of the subjects. During all tested sucking movements, the palatoglossus muscle showed continuous activity. The levator veli palatini muscle did not show remarkable activity during regular air sucking or water sucking when water was held in the oral cavity. However, its participation increased when intraoral sucking pressure was increased by opening the jaw, and lateral fluoroscopic examinations revealed that the soft palate was pulled toward the oral cavity to form a tight contact between the rostral portion of the soft palate and the retrotongue, causing the soft palate to make an "L" shape. The palatoglossus muscle plays a major role in palatal movement during sucking. Furthermore, the levator veli palatini muscle, whose activity was observed only during high-pressure sucking with an open jaw, may act to maintain tension in the soft palate against strong negative pressure in the oral cavity.

Intraoral pressure patterns during swallowing

“…Existing information about normal oral suction physiology is poor [18, 19]. Concerning suckling the infant mechanism for milk extraction from the nipple is believed to respond to peristaltic movements of the tongue against the palate and to a vacuum generation [20, 21].…”

Functional tubal therapy for persistent otitis media with effusion in children: Myth or evidence?

“…These mandibular movements, as do yawning and swallowing, obviously require contractions of the paratubal muscles [26]. Activation of the m. levator veli palatini has also been demonstrated in forced sucking, when the subject increases intraoral volume by opening the jaw [79]. Important from our point of view is that such movements can be systematically trained, and involved in a therapy program.…”