01 / Location & anatomical relationships
Down the front of the neck into the upper chest.
02 / Structure & organization
C-shaped hyaline cartilage supports the anterior and lateral walls. The posterior wall contains trachealis muscle adjacent to the esophagus. Ciliated epithelium and mucus contribute to clearance of inhaled material.
03 / Function
Rings of cartilage help keep it open.
04 / Mechanism
C-shaped cartilage supports the airway so it stays open. Its lining traps particles in mucus, and tiny moving cilia help carry the mucus upward. At the bottom, the windpipe splits into the main bronchi.
Working together: respiratory system
Your diaphragm contracts to help draw air in. Air reaches your lungs, where oxygen crosses into the blood through the walls of tiny air sacs.
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Connect structure with function
The trachea divides at the carina into the main bronchi. Its conducting function is distinct from gas exchange, which occurs much farther along the airway tree.
Check your understanding
Locate the trachea in relation to its neighbors. Explain how the structural features described above support its function, then distinguish it from a nearby structure with a different role.
Keep learning
Continue with OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology for system-level study. This atlas is educational and has not undergone independent medical peer review.