| somatic swallow | A swallowing pattern with muscular contractions which appear to be under control of the person at a subconscious level; distinguished from visceral swallow. Visceral swallow, the immature swallowing pattern of an infant or a person with tongue thrust, resembling peristaltic wavelike muscular contractions observed in the gut; adult or mature swallowing is more volitional and therefore somatic. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| special somatic afferent column | A column of gray matter in the hindbrain of the embryo, represented in the adult by the nuclei of the auditory and vestibular nerves. (05 Mar 2000) |