Final answer:
Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing, which can manifest with pain while swallowing, cough, and a sensation of food being stuck. It is a complex process controlled in part by the autonomic nervous system and the correct answer is (1) difficulty swallowing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dysphagia refers to the medical term for difficulty swallowing. This condition can manifest with symptoms such as pain with swallowing, cough, and a sensation of food being stuck in the throat. The process of swallowing, or deglutition, is divided into three stages: the voluntary phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase, with the pharyngeal and esophageal phases being controlled by the autonomic nervous system.
Considering the options provided:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Frequent passage of loose, watery stools
- Persistent cough
- Rapid heart rate
The correct answer to the question is (1) difficulty swallowing, which describes the condition dysphagia.