How does the incomplete rings of trachea can protect our respiratory system?

The incomplete rings of trachea do not protect our respiratory system. In fact, they provide flexibility to the trachea, allowing for essential neck movements such as swallowing, coughing, and turning the head.

The trachea is a tube-like structure composed of cartilage rings that connect the larynx (voice box) to the lungs. These rings are complete, not incomplete, and they ensure the trachea remains open, facilitating the passage of air. However, the presence of these rings does not directly provide protection to the respiratory system against threats or infections.

The protection of our respiratory system is achieved through various defence mechanisms, including:

1. Nasal hairs and mucus: The nose filters inhaled air by trapping dust, pollen, and other particles through its hairs and sticky mucus.

2. Lungs' defences: The bronchi, which branch off the trachea, produce mucus that traps foreign particles and pathogens. The cilia, tiny hair-like structures in the lungs, sweep these trapped substances out.

3. Alveolar macrophages: These cells in the lungs actively engulf and eliminate foreign materials or microorganisms.

4. Immune responses: The respiratory system has specialized immune cells, such as lymphocytes, that can recognize and attack harmful pathogens that enter the lungs.

5. Epiglottis: During swallowing, the epiglottis, a flap of tissue above the trachea, closes off the windpipe to prevent food or liquid from entering the lungs.

The trachea, with its incomplete rings, plays a vital role in providing structural support and enabling movement, but its primary purpose is to transport air between the lungs and the external environment, it does not directly offer protection against respiratory system threats.