Final answer:
Tracheostomy is the process of creating an opening into the trachea, typically to provide an alternative breathing pathway. This procedure is distinct from intubation, which is the insertion of a tube through the mouth or nose into the trachea to keep the airway open.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that means forming an opening into the trachea is called tracheostomy. This surgical procedure involves creating an opening in the neck and into the trachea. A tube is then inserted into this opening to provide an airway and remove secretions from the lungs. During intubation, which is a related procedure especially in emergency medicine, a tube is inserted through the mouth or nose and then into the trachea to maintain an open airway. This is critical when the airway is blocked or when a patient needs assistance with breathing. The trachea itself, often referred to as the windpipe, is an essential part of the respiratory system that connects the larynx to the lungs.
In the context of respiration and swallowing, the body has mechanisms to prevent food from entering the trachea. The epiglottis is a flap of cartilage located at the opening of the larynx and folds over the glottis to block food from entering the trachea during swallowing.
Tracheostomy refers to the medical procedure of creating a direct airway through an opening in the trachea, while intubation involves inserting a tube to maintain an open airway through the mouth or nose.