nielemäkykyyn

Nielekykyyn is a Finnish term that translates to "capacity for swallowing" or "swallowing ability." It refers to the physiological and neurological processes involved in moving food or liquids from the mouth to the stomach. This complex function requires the coordinated action of various muscles, nerves, and anatomical structures.

The process of swallowing, also known as deglutition, is typically divided into three phases: the oral phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase. The oral phase, which is voluntary, involves preparing the food for swallowing, forming a bolus, and propelling it to the back of the mouth. The pharyngeal phase, largely involuntary, begins when the bolus triggers the swallowing reflex, leading to the closure of the airway and the coordinated movement of the pharynx to push the bolus down into the esophagus. The esophageal phase is the involuntary passage of the bolus down the esophagus to the stomach via peristalsis, muscular contractions that propel food forward.

Difficulties with swallowing, termed dysphagia, can arise from a variety of causes. These can include neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as structural abnormalities in the mouth, throat, or esophagus. Muscular disorders, head and neck cancer treatments, and aging can also contribute to impaired swallowkykyyn. Symptoms of dysphagia can range from difficulty initiating a swallow to coughing or choking during or after eating, a sensation of food getting stuck, and unintended weight loss. Assessment of swallowkykyyn is often performed by speech-language pathologists and involves clinical evaluations and sometimes instrumental studies like videofluoroscopic swallowing studies or fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing.