Final answer:
The innervation of the airway is controlled by the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. The vagus nerve and the second to fifth thoracic ganglia contribute to the innervation. The internal and external branches of the superior laryngeal nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, and recurrent laryngeal nerve are not directly involved in the innervation of the airway.
Step-by-step explanation:
The innervation of the airway is controlled by the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. The parasympathetic system causes bronchoconstriction, while the sympathetic nervous system stimulates bronchodilation. Sensory nerve fibers arise from the vagus nerve and from the second to fifth thoracic ganglia, and they follow the bronchi in the lungs to innervate muscle fibers, glands, and blood vessels. The innervation of the airway is not directly related to the internal or external branches of the superior laryngeal nerve, the glossopharyngeal nerve, or the recurrent laryngeal nerve.