Final answer:
The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is the tube that transports inhaled air from the larynx to the lungs and is supported by C-shaped hyaline cartilage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is the hollow, semi-flexible tube that carries inhaled air from the larynx to the lungs. It is a tubular organ of the respiratory system, approximately 2.5 cm wide and 10-15 cm long, composed of 16 to 20 stacked, C-shaped pieces of hyaline cartilage. These rings are connected by dense connective tissue, allowing the trachea to maintain its shape and prevent collapse while still being flexible enough to stretch and expand slightly during inhalation and exhalation. The trachea then divides into the right and left bronchi, which continue to branch into smaller tubes called bronchioles, ending in alveoli where gas exchange occurs.