Final answer:
The action of swallowing is referred to as "deglutition," a process involving multiple phases and peristalsis in the esophagus to move food to the stomach.
Step-by-step explanation:
The linguistic element that refers to the action of swallowing is "deglutition." This term specifically denotes the complex process of moving food from the mouth to the stomach. The act of swallowing begins with the voluntary phase, moves through the pharyngeal phase, and completes in the esophageal phase, which includes peristalsis, a series of sequential muscular contractions that move the food bolus down the esophagus and into the stomach.
The esophagus carries the bolus, a lump of swallowed food, aided by the secretion of mucus for smooth passage. The peristaltic movement is controlled by the medulla oblongata and involves both skeletal and smooth muscle layers of the esophagus. As a crucial part of human digestion, deglutition is carefully coordinated to prevent food from entering the respiratory pathways.