Coughing reflex is triggered by contact with which parts of the airway?

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Coughing is a protective reflex triggered by irritant receptors in the airway mucosa, especially in the larynx and the tracheobronchial tree. When the vestibular folds (the false vocal cords) or the glottis (the opening between the vocal cords) are contacted or irritated, these receptors send signals via the vagus nerve to the coughing center in the brainstem. The brain then coordinates a rapid sequence that results in a forceful expiratory effort to expel the irritant. Alveoli lack the same irritant receptors that trigger this reflex, and while nasal irritation can lead to sneezing or other reflexes, the direct trigger for coughing in this context is contact with the vestibular folds or glottis.