Basic and Clinical Sciences (BCSE) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct answer emphasizes that the C-shaped hyaline cartilage rings in the trachea provide support and structure to the airway. These cartilage rings are essential for maintaining the open shape of the trachea, ensuring that it remains patent and allowing for the free passage of air to and from the lungs. The C-shape is particularly advantageous because it allows the trachea to stay open while still providing flexibility. The open part of the C allows for the esophagus to expand during swallowing.

The availability of this rigid support is critical because it prevents the trachea from collapsing, especially during inhalation when air pressure decreases. This structure differentiates the trachea from other flexible structures that may not be reinforced, allowing for both functionality in air passage and durability against external pressure.

Other options relate to functions that do not apply to the trachea. Elasticity and flexibility are necessary in various tissues but are not the primary functions of the tracheal rings, which focus more on stability than on stretchability. Fluid transport is a function associated with blood vessels or other systems, rather than airways. The provision of a nutrient supply does not pertain to the trachea either, as it is primarily an air passage and does not have a