What are the features of the windpipe?

The windpipe, or trachea, is a flexible tube that connects the larynx to the bronchi of the lungs. It is composed of C-shaped rings of cartilage that provide structural support while allowing flexibility and movement. The inner lining is made up of ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium, which helps trap and expel debris and mucus. Additionally, the trachea is approximately 10-12 centimeters long in adults and is located anterior to the esophagus.