What is the act of drawing a foreign substance into the upper respiratory tract called?

The act of drawing a foreign substance into the upper respiratory tract is known as aspiration. This term specifically refers to the process where a substance, which could be food, liquid, or other materials, inadvertently enters the airway, potentially leading to respiratory complications or infections. Aspiration can occur during swallowing or if the airway reflexes are impaired, making it a significant concern in healthcare settings, particularly for individuals with swallowing difficulties or certain medical conditions.

Inhalation refers to the act of breathing in air, which is a normal, controlled process, while exhalation is breathing out air, neither of which specifically implicate the introduction of foreign substances. Ingestion pertains to the act of taking food or liquid into the stomach through the mouth and does not involve the respiratory tract. Therefore, aspiration is the most accurate term in the context of the question, as it uniquely relates to substances entering the respiratory system.