Which anatomical structure is located below the thyroid cartilage?

The cricoid cartilage is the anatomical structure located below the thyroid cartilage. It is part of the larynx and functions as a significant support for the airway. The cricoid cartilage is a complete ring of cartilage that encircles the trachea and provides a solid base for the structure of the larynx, which is important for voice production and maintaining an open airway.

In the context of the other structures mentioned, the epiglottis sits above the thyroid cartilage and plays a critical role in protecting the airway during swallowing. The maxilla and mandible are bones located in the facial skeleton, with the maxilla being the upper jaw and the mandible being the lower jaw, neither of which is anatomically related to the laryngeal cartilages. Thus, the cricoid cartilage is the correct answer, as it is directly found inferior to the thyroid cartilage in the anatomical arrangement of the neck and larynx.