Which of the following ensures that the air passage does NOT collapse during respiration?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (D)   ​Rings of cartilage

• ​The air passage in our body is supported by cartilage rings that help keep it open during breathing.
• These cartilage rings are shaped like the letter "C" and are found in the throat and windpipe.
• They prevent the windpipe (trachea) from collapsing, even when there is little air moving through it.
  

Information booster:

• ​Cartilage is a strong yet flexible tissue that allows the windpipe to bend and adjust while we breathe.
• The rings are not complete circles; they are open at the back.
• This design allows the trachea to slightly collapse when needed, such as when food passes down the esophagus, the tube that carries food to the stomach.