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The structure responsible for moving air between the external environment and the lungs is the trachea. The trachea, commonly known as the windpipe, serves as a crucial airway that conducts inhaled air from the upper respiratory tract, including the nose and larynx, directly into the lungs. It is a hollow tube reinforced with cartilage that prevents it from collapsing, ensuring that air can flow freely into the lungs during both inhalation and exhalation.

While the larynx plays an essential role in protecting the airway during swallowing and in voice production, it does not directly transport air to the lungs. The nose, although vital for air entry, primarily functions to warm, humidify, and filter incoming air. The lungs themselves are the destination for air and are involved in gas exchange but do not physically move air from the external environment. Therefore, among the options provided, the trachea is the correct answer for the structure that facilitates the movement of air to and from the lungs.