What structures comprise the lower airways?

The lower airways consist of several critical structures that play essential roles in the conduction of air and gas exchange. The correct option includes the larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli.

The larynx acts as a passageway for air and contains the vocal cords, helping to protect the airway and facilitate voice production. Following the larynx, the trachea serves as the main airway that connects the larynx to the bronchi. Once the trachea bifurcates, it divides into the right and left bronchi, which branch into smaller bronchi and eventually into bronchioles. These bronchioles lead to the alveoli, where the actual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs.

This complete pathway highlights the respiratory system's organization and emphasizes the importance of each structure in the process of breathing and gas exchange. Understanding the roles of these components is crucial for comprehending respiratory physiology and disorders.