Key words and definitions

• Adventitia – The outermost connective tissue of an organ, vessel or other structure
• Afferent sensory fibre – Sensory fibres that convey impulses to a ganglion, nerve centre in the brain or spinal cord
• Aspiration – (pulmonary aspiration) the entry of foreign material into the trachea or lungs
• Atrioventricular (AV) node – An electrical relay centre between the atria and ventricles of the heart
• Efferent sensory fibre - Sensory fibres that convey impulses away from ganglia, nerve centres in the brain or spinal cord
• Laryngeal muscle – (Larynx) Also known as the voicebox. It protects the trachea and produces sound
• Nasopharynx – The nasal part of the pharynx that lies behind the nose and above the soft palate
• Oropharynx – Oral part of the pharynx
• Palatal arch – the arch formed by the roof of the mouth
• Paralysis – the loss of muscle function from one or more muscle group
• Parasympathetic – nervous action involved in ‘Rest and digest’ action
• Peristalsis – the movement of the alimentary canal to drive food through the digestive tract
• Pharynx – The cavity found at the back of the mouth
• Sino atrial (SA) node – A major element of the cardiac conduction system. It generates electrical impulses and conducts them throughout the heart
• Sympathetic – nervous response involved in ‘fight and flight’ response
• Vasoconstriction – the narrowing (constriction) of blood vessels
• Visceral reflex - a reflex mediated by autonomic nerves of the internal organs of the body