Final answer:
The best term that defines swallowing is 'deglutition,' a process that involves the tongue and pharyngeal muscles and takes place in three phases, with the latter two controlled by the autonomic nervous system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best term that defines swallowing, the movement of chewed ingesta into the pharynx and the esophagus, is deglutition. This complex process involves the skeletal muscle of the tongue and the muscles of the pharynx and esophagus. It consists of three phases: the voluntary phase, where movement is consciously controlled, followed by the pharyngeal and esophageal phases, which are involuntary and controlled by the autonomic nervous system.
During deglutition, mucus and saliva aid in propelling food through the digestive tract, starting from the mouth and ending in the stomach. This process is distinct from mastication, which involves the chewing of food, and peristalsis, which pertains to the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract. The term 'digestive propulsion' is a broader term that includes various movements within the digestive system, including swallowing and peristalsis.