passageway

A passageway is a route or channel that permits transit from one place to another, or a conduit for substances, energy, or information.

In architecture and built environments, passageways include corridors, aisles, gangways, tunnels, and other routes connecting rooms or spaces. They are designed to accommodate movement of people, vehicles, or goods, and may include elements such as doors, stairs, ramps, lighting, ventilation, and signage.

In infrastructure and industry, passageways also serve as ducts, conduits, and shafts for utilities such as air, water, electrical cables, and sewage.

In biology and medicine, passageways refer to anatomical channels that transport air, fluids, or secretions, such as nasal passages, the pharynx, the esophagus, bile ducts, and blood vessels; the term is also used for natural channels in organisms.

Design and safety considerations for passageways include accessibility, fire safety, and emergency egress, along with requirements for width, headroom, lighting, ventilation, and signage.