Answer:
The trachea and the stem bronchi
Below the larynx lies the trachea, a tube about 10 to 12 cm (3.9 to 4.7 inches) long and 2 cm (0.8 inch) wide. Its wall is stiffened by 16 to 20 characteristic horseshoe-shaped, incomplete cartilage rings that open toward the back and are embedded in a dense connective tissue. The dorsal wall contains a strong layer of transverse smooth muscle fibres that spans the gap of the cartilage. The interior of the trachea is lined by the typical respiratory epithelium. The mucosal layer contains mucous glands.
