Final answer:
The upper airways include the nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx, which are responsible for air conduction, humidification, warming, and cleaning, as well as sound production through the vocal cords. They form part of the conducting zone and do not encompass the lungs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The upper airways consist of the air passages that carry air into and out of the body before reaching the trachea, but they do not include the lungs. These passages, which are part of the conducting zone of the respiratory system, comprise the nasal cavity, pharynx, and larynx (voice box). The primary functions of these structures are to move air from the outside environment into the body, and to clean, warm, and humidify that air. The larynx also contains the vocal cords, which are necessary for sound production. It is worth noting that no gas exchange takes place in the upper airways; this process occurs in the lower respiratory tract within the lungs.