Which statement best describes the trachea?

Which statement best describes the trachea?

• A. A rigid tube in the neck and upper chest that starts at the larynx and divides into bronchi
• B. A flexible tube connecting the lungs to the heart
• C. A muscular tube that extends into the abdomen
• D. A membrane surrounding the lungs

Answer: (A)

The trachea is the main airway, the windpipe that carries air from the larynx down toward the lungs. It sits in the neck and upper chest and is supported by C-shaped cartilage rings that keep the passage open, giving it a fairly rigid structure. It starts just below the larynx and ends by dividing into the right and left main bronchi in the chest, which is exactly what this description says. This distinguishes it from structures that connect the lungs to the heart, extend into the abdomen, or surround the lungs as a membrane.

The trachea is the main airway, the windpipe that carries air from the larynx down toward the lungs. It sits in the neck and upper chest and is supported by C-shaped cartilage rings that keep the passage open, giving it a fairly rigid structure. It starts just below the larynx and ends by dividing into the right and left main bronchi in the chest, which is exactly what this description says. This distinguishes it from structures that connect the lungs to the heart, extend into the abdomen, or surround the lungs as a membrane.