Final answer:
The trachea is constructed with rings of cartilage to provide structural support that keeps the airway open, allows flexibility for breathing movements, and assists in coughing to expel foreign particles. The C-shaped cartilage is complemented by muscle and a soft membrane, ensuring both stability and adaptability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The trachea, commonly known as the windpipe, is designed with incomplete rings of cartilage for several crucial reasons. These C-shaped rings provide the trachea with structural support to stay open for air to pass through the respiratory tract. They are made of hyaline cartilage, which is strong yet flexible, enabling the trachea to expand and contract slightly during breathing.
The cartilage rings are connected by fibroelastic membrane and trachealis muscle, allowing for adjustments in the trachea's diameter; this is particularly useful during coughing, when the muscle contracts to push air forcefully through the trachea to expel mucus and foreign particles. Furthermore, the internal lining of the trachea is made of pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium and goblet cells, which trap particles and propel them away from the lungs through the action of cilia. This hybrid structure of rigid cartilage and flexible muscle ensures that the trachea remains patent and is capable of clearing inhaled debris efficiently.