What is the difference between trachea and windpipe

Trachea and esophagus are two tubular structures found in the neck region of humans. Though they are closely located structures, their functions differ from each other.

The trachea belongs to the respiratory system whereas the esophagus belongs to the digestive system. The main difference between trachea and esophagus is that trachea is the major bronchi or the windpipe of humans whereas esophagus is the food pipe, which connects the pharynx to the stomach. The trachea transport air in and out of the lungs. The esophagus transports food from the pharynx to the stomach.

What is Trachea — Definition, Characteristics, Function 2. What is Esophagus — Definition, Characteristics, Function 3. Trachea is the main windpipe of the respiratory system of humans. It is a nearly cylindrical structure.

A cross-section of the trachea is D-shaped. The trachea starts from the inferior part of the larynx. It divides into left and right bronchi at the T vertebrae. The diameter of the male trachea is higher than that of the female trachea. The length of the trachea is around 11 cm. The incomplete, cartilaginous rings are present anteriorly and laterally along the trachea.

But, the posterior side does not have those cartilaginous rings. These rings are U-shaped and are made up of hyaline cartilage. A typical trachea contains cartilaginous rings. They prevent the collapse of the membranous tube during inhalation. The false vocal cords have no role in sound production, but help close off the larynx when food is swallowed. The thyroid cartilage is the Adam's apple. The epiglottis acts like a trap door to keep food and other particles from entering the larynx.

The trachea, commonly called the windpipe , is the main airway to the lungs. It divides into the right and left bronchi at the level of the fifth thoracic vertebra, channeling air to the right or left lung.

It starts from the mouth and ends in the stomach, the first digestive organ of our body. Similarly, the windpipe exists right behind the food pipe. It starts below the nose, carries on to the lungs in a bifurcated way forming bronchi. Let us study the difference first to grab the concept well.

The first step is to understand the organs individually. The food pipe, also called as oesophagus, is a pipe-like structure present in the digestive canal. It begins from the mouth and ends in the stomach. After mastication, the food bolus is swallowed with the help of our tongue. This food bolus then travels down a pipe before reaching the stomach. This is the first difference between the trachea and oesophagus. Oesophagus carries food to the stomach.

This pipe is made of a muscular lumen that carries the food bolus by performing the peristaltic movement. This movement occurs when periodic constriction and relaxation of the muscles occur involuntarily. The food then reaches the stomach. An interesting fact about the peristaltic movement is that one can eat and swallow food even if he is upside down or without gravity.