What is the medical term for the inhalation of food, fluid, or foreign material into the lungs?

• A. Embolism
• B. Pneumonia
• C. Aspiration
• D. Pulmonary edema

Answer: (C)

Aspiration is the medical term for inhaling food, liquid, or other material into the airways and lungs. This happens when swallowing or protective airway reflexes fail, allowing material to pass from the pharynx into the trachea instead of staying in the esophagus. The material in the lungs can trigger coughing or choking and may irritate lung tissue or become infected, leading to aspiration pneumonia. The other terms describe different problems: an embolism is a blockage of a blood vessel by material such as a clot; pneumonia means infection causing inflammation of lung tissue; and pulmonary edema is excess fluid in the lungs, usually from heart trouble.