Which structure ensures the airway remains open during breathing?

The structure that ensures the airway remains open during breathing is the cartilaginous rings. These rings are found in the trachea and bronchi and are essential for maintaining the structural integrity of the airway. They are made of hyaline cartilage, which is both strong and flexible, allowing the airway to stay open and preventing it from collapsing during inhalation and exhalation.

The cartilaginous rings provide a rigid but flexible framework that supports the trachea's tubular structure, enabling air to flow freely to and from the lungs. This design is particularly important because the trachea is a passage that must remain open at all times in order for effective respiration to occur. Additionally, since the rings are incomplete at the back where the trachea is adjacent to the esophagus, this arrangement allows the esophagus to expand when swallowing food without impeding airflow.

In contrast, while the epiglottis plays a critical role in directing food away from the airway during swallowing, and the uvula assists in speech and preventing food entry into the nasal cavity, neither of them primarily serves to keep the airway open during breathing. The cricothyroid ligament connects the thyroid and cricoid cartilages of the larynx, but