Final answer:
Aspiration is the correct term for food inhalation that blocks the airway, potentially leading to choking and requiring emergency procedures like intubation to maintain an open airway.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to food inhalation that blocks the airway is b) Aspiration. Aspiration occurs when food, liquids, saliva, or other foreign materials are breathed into the airways. This could potentially lead to choking, which is a mechanical obstruction of the flow of air from the atmosphere into the lungs. Choking can be partial or complete and, if not rapidly resolved, may lead to asphyxia or suffocation. In the presence of a choking hazard, intubation may be required to maintain an open airway and prevent a life-threatening situation. This medical emergency highlights the importance of understanding how the respiratory system works, including processes such as external respiration, interpulmonary respiration, internal respiration, and pulmonary ventilation.