Final answer:
The trachea, or windpipe, is an essential airway in the human respiratory system that connects the larynx to the lungs and is supported by C-shaped cartilage rings. It is lined with ciliated epithelium and goblet cells to clean the inhaled air. Additionally, in arthropods, the trachea refers to a tube system that carries air from spiracles to tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
The trachea, commonly known as the windpipe, is a crucial component of the respiratory system. In humans, it serves as a tubular passage approximately 10 to 15 cm (4-6 inches) in length and 2.5 cm (1 inch) in diameter, which extends from the larynx to the lungs. The trachea is supported by 16 to 20 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage, ensuring it remains open for air passage. These cartilage rings are connected by dense connective tissue, and the trachealis muscle, along with the elastic connective tissue, forms the fibroelastic membrane. This structure allows the trachea to remain flexible, stretching slightly during inhalation and exhalation. The tracheal wall is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium, mucus-producing goblet cells, and ciliated epithelia, which work together to trap inhaled particles and move them toward the pharynx to be expelled from the body. The division of the trachea forms the right and left bronchi, leading to bronchioles and alveoli where gas exchange occurs.
In some arthropods, such as insects, the term trachea refers to a system of respiratory tubes that conduct air from external openings called spiracles directly to body tissues, enabling efficient gaseous exchange.