North Seattle College EMT Entrance Practice Exam 2026 – Your All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The structure that branches into the right and left primary bronchus is the trachea. The trachea, also known as the windpipe, is a vital part of the respiratory system that extends from the larynx and serves as the passageway for air to enter the lungs. At a certain point, typically around the level of the fifth thoracic vertebra, the trachea bifurcates into two main bronchi: the right primary bronchus, which leads to the right lung, and the left primary bronchus, which leads to the left lung. This branching is crucial as it allows for the distribution of air to both lungs, facilitating the process of respiration.

The other options do not serve this function. The epiglottis is a flap-like structure that covers the trachea during swallowing to prevent food from entering the airway, while the pleurae are membranes that surround the lungs and line the chest cavity, playing a role in protecting the lungs and allowing for expansion and contraction during breathing. The mediastinum is the central compartment of the thoracic cavity that contains various structures, including the heart, trachea, esophagus, and major blood vessels, but it does not branch into the primary bronchi