Final answer:
The trachea protects the lungs, alveoli increase surface area for gas exchange, and cartilaginous rings prevent the trachea from collapsing.
Explanation:
(a) Protecting the lungs: The trachea, with its cartilaginous rings, helps in protecting the lungs by preventing it from collapsing. The hard rings in the trachea provide structural support, ensuring the trachea stays open to allow air to flow in and out.
(b) Increasing the surface area for gaseous exchange: The alveoli in the lungs are responsible for increasing the surface area for gaseous exchange. With 480 to 790 million alveoli in the lungs, the surface area for gas exchange is around 118m² in men and 91m² in women.
(c) Preventing the trachea from collapsing: The cartilaginous rings in the trachea prevent it from collapsing, maintaining an open passage for air to reach the lungs.
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