The larynx is the lowest structure in the upper respiratory tract.

• A. Partially true
• B. True
• C. Not determinable
• D. False

Answer: (B)

Understanding how the respiratory tract is divided helps here: the upper airway extends from the nose down to the larynx, and the lower airway begins with the trachea just below the larynx. The larynx sits directly above the trachea, making it the lowest structure in the upper airway. So air passes from the pharynx into the larynx and then into the trachea, which marks the start of the lower tract. This boundary explains why the statement is true. (The larynx also houses the vocal cords and helps protect the airway, but its position is what defines its place in the airway divisions.)