What is the term for the inability to swallow?

The term that accurately describes the inability to swallow is "aphagia." Aphagia refers specifically to the absence or inability to swallow food or liquids due to a physiological or neurological condition. It is important to differentiate this from similar terms related to swallowing disorders.

Dysphagia, for instance, refers to difficulty swallowing rather than a complete inability, so while it involves problems with swallowing, it does not mean that a person is entirely unable to do so. Aphasia deals with language abilities, affecting communication rather than swallowing, and hemophagia, which is not a commonly used term in medical contexts, does not pertain to swallowing but might relate to various other conditions that involve eating or ingesting substances in an abnormal manner.

Understanding these distinctions helps solidify the correct terminology in medical contexts, particularly in patient care and documentation.