deglutir

Deglutir is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese meaning to swallow, the act of moving a quantity of material from the mouth through the pharynx to the esophagus. In medical and anatomical contexts, deglutition refers to this swallow process. The term derives from Latin deglutire, from de- “down” and glutire “to swallow,” and the related English term deglutition is used in anatomy and clinical literature.

Deglutition is a coordinated, three-phase process. The oral preparatory and oral transport phase is voluntary: the bolus is chewed, mixed with saliva, formed into a cohesive mass, and propelled to the back of the mouth by the tongue. The pharyngeal phase is rapid and involuntary: the soft palate elevates to close the nasopharynx, the larynx moves upward and the epiglottis folds over the airway, the pharyngeal constrictors contract, and the upper esophageal sphincter relaxes to admit the bolus into the esophagus. The esophageal phase is also involuntary: peristaltic waves move the bolus downward, and the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes to allow entry into the stomach.

Clinical relevance centers on dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, and less commonly odynophagia, pain on swallowing. Impairment can result from neurological, muscular, or structural conditions and may lead to aspiration or malnutrition. Assessment commonly uses videofluoroscopic swallow studies or endoscopic evaluations, with management including dietary adjustments, swallowing therapy, and, when needed, medical or surgical treatment.