reswallow

Reswallow is the act of swallowing again after an initial swallow. The term is used in different contexts to describe distinct phenomena that involve a second or repeated swallow.

In animal digestion, reswallowing occurs as part of cud-chewing in ruminant mammals. After regurgitated material is chewed, it is swallowed again, a cycle that helps break down plant matter and aid microbial fermentation in the stomach. This reswallowing is a normal, routine part of the digestive process for many hoofed animals such as cows, sheep, and deer.

In human physiology and clinical practice, reswallow can refer to a deliberate second swallow performed to clear residual material from the pharynx or esophagus. Some speech-language pathologists teach a second swallow as a swallowing strategy for individuals with dysphagia, aiming to reduce residue and lower the risk of aspiration. The appropriateness and effectiveness of a reswallow technique depend on the person’s specific swallowing impairment and clinical context.

Reswallow is distinct from regurgitation, where material is expelled from the stomach or esophagus, and from rumination in animals, where regurgitated matter is chewed again and then re-swallowed. The term emphasizes the repeated nature of the action rather than the direction of movement of the substance.

Etymology: the word combines re- meaning “again” with swallow, reflecting the repetition involved in the action. See also regurgitation, rumination, and swallowing therapy for related concepts.