What term is used to describe the act of swallowing?

The term that specifically refers to the act of swallowing is deglutition. This physiological process involves the coordination of muscles in the mouth, throat, and esophagus to transport food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach. During deglutition, food is formed into a bolus by the tongue and pushed to the back of the mouth, where the swallowing reflex is triggered, allowing the bolus to travel down the esophagus.

Ingesting refers to the act of taking food or drink into the mouth, but it does not encompass the entire process of swallowing. Mastication, on the other hand, is the mechanical process of chewing food to break it down into smaller pieces before swallowing. Absorption pertains to the process by which nutrients are taken up into the bloodstream from the digestive tract and is not related to the act of swallowing itself. Hence, deglutition is the most precise term for this specific action.