What is the medical term that describes the act of swallowing?

The medical term that refers to the act of swallowing is deglutition. This term specifically describes the coordinated process that involves the movement of food or liquid from the mouth through the pharynx and into the esophagus. It encompasses several phases: the oral phase, where food is prepared and pushed to the back of the mouth; the pharyngeal phase, which involves reflexes as the food bolus is moved past the throat; and the esophageal phase, where the bolus is transported down the esophagus to the stomach.

In contrast, ingestion refers to the act of taking in food or drink into the body but does not specifically denote the swallowing process. Dysphagia is a medical condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing, which is the opposite of the act itself. Esophageal reflux pertains to the backward flow of stomach contents into the esophagus, and while it relates to swallowing, it specifically addresses a condition rather than the act of swallowing itself. Thus, deglutition is the precise term that signifies the swallowing process.