• Question: Why can't you swallow your tongue?

    Asked by bealeewh to Helen, Jenni, Mark, Martin, Stu on 23 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Stuart Mourton

      Stuart Mourton answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      It is possible for the tounge to fall back down and block the throat. However most of the time due to the tounges attachment point and constant state of semi-contractedness (not sure that’s a word!!) you can’t swallow it. When knocked unconcious it has a tendancy to fall back down the throat, in fact the New Zealand rugby play Tana Umaga was applauded for ignoring the game around him and checking on the Welsh player Colin Charvis after getting knocked out by a tackle several years ago.

    • Photo: Mark Burnley

      Mark Burnley answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      A very simple answer is because it is attached to your jaw! However, as Stu rightly points out, if you are unconscious you can “swallow” your tongue, which is to say it blocks your airway. That’s not really swallowing though.

    • Photo: Helen O'Connor

      Helen O'Connor answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      Stu and Mark know so much more about the human body than me – I guess my area (psychology) is more what goes on inside the head – and I don’t mean the tongue!

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