The respiratory system consists of the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, alveoli, and diaphragm. The pharynx is a passageway for food and air and contains the epiglottis. The larynx holds the vocal cords and is covered by the epiglottis during swallowing. The trachea is a cartilage-reinforced tube that branches into the bronchi and carries air into the lungs. The bronchi branch into smaller bronchioles that lead to clusters of alveoli, which are tiny sacs surrounded by capillaries where gas exchange occurs. The diaphragm is a muscle that contracts and relaxes to help breathe air in and