The trachea begins immediately below the larynx (voicebox) and runs down the center of the front part of the neck ends behind the upper part of the sternum, where it divides to form two branches which enter the lung cavities.

The trachea is flexible, like a vacuum tube, so that the head and neck can twist and bend without it closing off.

The trachea consists of about 20 "C" shaped cartilagenous rings. These rings prevent tracheal collapse or overexpansion as pressures within the respiratory system change.