What is the term for feeding with a tube?

The term for feeding with a tube is "gavage." This procedure typically involves the administration of nutrition through a tube that is inserted into the stomach, allowing for the delivery of essential nutrients to individuals who are unable to eat by mouth. Gavage is commonly used in medical settings, such as for patients who are critically ill, infants who cannot feed themselves, or individuals with certain medical conditions that impair swallowing.

Understanding the term's application is crucial in medical contexts, particularly in ensuring adequate nutrition for patients who rely on alternative feeding methods. The other options provided refer to different unrelated concepts: "gestation" pertains to the period of development during pregnancy, "glucose" is a simple sugar that serves as a primary energy source in the body, and "goiter" is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. These distinctions underscore the specific medical context of "gavage" as a method of feeding.