OK men of DU, I have a question concerning matters of the lungs.

[UrbScotty]

Why is a windpipe called a trachea?

What a horrible name for a passageway for air.

[gordianot]

1. Blame the people who thought Latin was the language of learning.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Hmmmmm....

Middle English trache, from Medieval Latin trâchça, from Late Latin trâchîa, from Greek (artçria) trâkheia, rough (artery), trachea (as opposed to the smooth vessels that carried blood and not air), feminine of trâkhus, rough.]

[Lerkfish]

3. technically, lungs and trachea are two seperate entities.

[MnFats]

4. not just technically....they are as different as hands & arms..

so there.