What structure serves as the passageway for air entering and leaving the body?

The airway is the correct response because it refers to the system of passages through which air flows into and out of the lungs. This encompasses the nose and nasal cavity, throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx), trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. Each of these structures plays a vital role in conducting air to the alveoli, where gas exchange occurs.

The term "airway" is more inclusive, capturing the entire route that air takes as it enters the body and reaches the lungs, as well as the path through which it exits. While the trachea and bronchi are significant components of the airway, they are just part of a larger system dedicated to air conduction, and therefore do not represent the full scope of the passageway for air entering and leaving the body.