What is the term for breathing fluid, food, or any object into the lungs?

The correct term for breathing in fluid, food, or any object into the lungs is aspiration. This occurs when substances that should be swallowed or passed through the digestive system enter the airway and lungs instead. Aspiration can lead to serious complications, including aspiration pneumonia, which is an infection that may arise from foreign materials in the lungs.

Inhalation refers to the process of drawing air into the lungs, rather than introducing foreign substances. Choking describes a situation where the airway is blocked, usually by an object obstructing it, leading to difficulty in breathing. Regurgitation involves the backward flow of food or liquid from the stomach to the throat, and while it may contribute to aspiration, it specifically does not address the act of inhaling the substance into the lungs. Therefore, aspiration is the most accurate term for the scenario described.