Final answer:
The complex process of swallowing, or deglutition, involves three phases and can be disrupted, causing difficulty, known as dysphagia. This condition requires medical attention to manage and prevent complications such as aspiration pneumonia.
Step-by-step explanation:
When conditions of the mouth or esophagus make swallowing difficult or impossible, it is often due to a disruption in the complex process of deglutition, which involves three phases: the voluntary phase, the pharyngeal phase, and the esophageal phase. Problems can arise in any of these phases and may be caused by neurological disorders, muscular issues, or structural abnormalities. For example, during the pharyngeal phase, if the laryngeal muscles do not properly constrict or the epiglottis does not fully cover the glottis, there is a risk of food entering the respiratory pathways, leading to coughing or even aspiration pneumonia. The condition known as dysphagia is characterized by difficulty in swallowing and requires medical assessment and intervention to manage symptoms and prevent complications.
Despite the gravity-independent nature of swallowing due to peristalsis (the muscular contractions that move food along the esophagus), patients with swallowing difficulties may experience pain, discomfort, and nutritional deficits without proper management.