Embryologic Development Important for Swallowing Corey Dalton

Weeks 1-3 Weeks 4-8 Weeks 9-14 Weeks 15-20 Weeks 21-29 Weeks 30-40
Important for the At 9 weeks, the embryo becomes a
development of the head fetus
and neck!
Week 1 Week 4 Week 9 Week 15 Week 21 Week 30
-Facial features -Pharyngeal swallow -Fetus can survive outside the womb -Baby cannot coordinate
-Limbs and toes -Upper and lower respiration developing breathing & sucking
independently
Week 10 Week 16 Week 22 Week 31
-Pharyngeal swallow -Fetus can survive outside the womb -Baby cannot coordinate
-Upper and lower respiration developing breathing & sucking
independently
Week 2 Week 5 Week 11 Week 17 Week 23 Week 32
-Arytenoids and epiglottis -Strengthening of pharyngeal -Fetus can survive outside the womb -Baby cannot coordinate
develop swallow -Upper and lower respiration developing breathing & sucking
-Cranial nerves develop -Sucking begins independently
-Lung buds (respiration starting Week 12 Week 18 Week 24 Week 33
to develop) -Hard and soft palate begin to -Strengthening of pharyngeal -Fetus can survive outside the womb -Baby cannot coordinate
-Larynx, esophagus, trachea fuse swallow -Upper and lower respiration developing breathing & sucking
-Sucking begins independently
Week 3 Week 6 Week 13 Week 19 Week 25 Week 34
-CNS begins -Nasal/Oral passages separate -Pharyngeal swallow -Strengthening of pharyngeal -Fetus can survive outside the womb -Depending on infant, can
to develop -Cranial nerves develop swallow -Upper and lower respiration developing be bottle or breast fed
-Neural folds -Lung buds -Sucking begins -Most can sustain oral
(later -Larynx, esophagus, trachea nutrition
becomes Week 14 Week 20 Week 26 Week 35
neural tube) -Pharyngeal swallow -Strengthening of pharyngeal -Primitive reflexes (i.e.—gag reflex) -Depending on infant, can
swallow -CNS still maturing be bottle or breast fed
-Sucking begins -Coordination for breathing is -Most can sustain oral
developing nutrition
-Body temperature control starts
Week 7 Week 27 Week 36
-Embryo develops a tongue -Primitive reflexes (i.e.—gag reflex) -Depending on infant, can
-4 chambers of the heart formed -CNS still maturing be bottle or breast fed
-Lung buds -Coordination for breathing is -Most can sustain oral
-Larynx, esophagus, trachea developing nutrition
-Body temperature control starts
Week 28 Week 37-40
-Primitive reflexes (i.e.—gag reflex) -Considered normal
-CNS still maturing gestation
-Coordination for breathing is -38 weeks is ideal (but 37
developing weeks is considered
-Body temperature control starts normal)
Week 8 Week 29
-Embryo develops a tongue -Primitive reflexes (i.e.—gag reflex)
-Lung buds -CNS still maturing
-Larynx, esophagus, trachea -Coordination for breathing is
developing
-Body temperature control starts
Embryologic Development Important for Swallowing Corey Dalton