Swallowing function is a complex sensorimotor process that refers to the delivery of food from the mouth to the stomach. Different levels of the central nervous system, from the brain stem to the cerebral cortex, are involved in the control of swallowing function. Peripheral sensory inputs and cortical inputs reach the central pattern generators. Central pattern generators regulate swallowing triggering, sequential and rhythmic swallowing patterns, and timing of swallowing. The created neural pattern is distributed sequentially to more than one motor neuron pool, providing sequential rhythmic contraction of the related swallowing muscles. The cerebellum, basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus, and amygdala are subcortical structures that are activated during swallowing. The cerebellum and basal ganglia contribute to the coordinated work of the oropharyngeal region. Many regions in the cerebral cortex including the primary motor cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, supplementary motor area, cingulate cortex, superior temporal gyrus, insula, and hippocampus are involved in swallowing function. Activation of regions in the cerebral cortex changes according to the voluntary and reflexive stages of swallowing. As a result of the interaction of all these structures, effective and safe swallowing occurs. Lesions at different levels of central control may result in dysphagia. Therefore, it is very important to know the structures responsible for the central control of the swallowing function and to perceive their functions. The aim of this review is to describe the anatomical structures of the centers involved in the swallowing function and to explain their relationship with the swallowing function.