elnyelése

Elnyelése is a Hungarian noun that denotes the act of swallowing. It is formed from the verb elnyelni (“to swallow down, to gulp”) with the nominal suffix -ése, and it can refer to the physiological process of moving a substance from the mouth into the esophagus, as well as to the general act of swallowing.

In humans, swallowing is a complex, coordinated reflex that transports a bolus from the mouth to the stomach. It involves the oral preparatory and oral transit phases, followed by the pharyngeal phase, during which the soft palate elevates, the larynx rises, the epiglottis protects the airway, and pharyngeal constrictors push the material into the esophagus. Peristaltic waves then carry the bolus to the stomach.

Dysphagia, a common clinical concern, is the impairment of swallowing function and can accompany neurologic, muscular, or structural disorders. Signs include coughing during meals, a sensation of food sticking, regurgitation, or unexplained weight loss. Aspiration poses a risk of pneumonia. Evaluation typically uses videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). Management may involve dietary modifications, swallowing techniques, and, when needed, medical or surgical intervention.

In Hungarian usage, elnyelése appears in medical and everyday language to describe the act of swallowing. It may also appear in figurative expressions, where the word conveys the sense of swallowing something physically or metaphorically.