Q.
Which of the following structural features best differentiates the trachea from bronchi?
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Breathing and Exchange of Gases
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Solution:
The trachea and bronchi are lined by respiratory epithelium with ciliated and goblet cells. Both have an abundance of smooth muscle. The trachea has the dorsal trachealis smooth muscle and the bronchi have abundant smooth muscle between plates of hyaline cartilage. The chief difference between the trachea and bronchi is that the trachea has C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage and the bronchi have plates of irregularly shaped hyaline cartilage. Small mucous glands are present in both trachea and bronchi.