How toothed whales swallow without blocking their airway
April 16, 2026
A recent publication from the Vogl lab in Integrative Organismal Biology reveals that the ‘palatopharyngeal sphincter’ in toothed whales is formed by fusion of part of the superior constrictor of the pharynx with the soft palate around the rostral end of the larynx. This fusion creates a functional seal that isolates the airway from the gut tube.
The authors also present a biomechanical model describing how this sphincter is positioned and controlled by surrounding muscles. The model predicts that the sphincter is most strongly contracted during swallowing, stabilizing the larynx within the nasopharynx when whales consume large prey. During periodic explosive breathing, the sphincter relaxes, allowing the laryngeal inlet to open widely and enable unrestricted airflow.
Source Publication: A W Vogl, R Cieri, P Palia, R Shadwick, P Cottrell, S Raverty, Fusion of the Pharyngeal Wall to the Soft Palate Around the Laryngeal Inlet Isolates the Airway in Odontocete Cetaceans, Integrative Organismal Biology, Volume 8, Issue 1, 2026, obag012, https://doi.org/10.1093/iob/obag012
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