In: Anatomy and Physiology
anatomy of trachea
* The trachea(windpipe) comes under lower respiratory tract which begins just under the larynx and runs behind the breastbone(sternum).
* It connects larynx to the bronchi of lungs allowing the passage of air. It extends from larynx and branches into two primary bronchi. At the top of trachea is a cricoid cartilage attaches to larynx.
* The length of trachea is 10-11 cms and inner diameter is 1.5 to 2 cms(in adults). It is wider in males compared to females and it is made up of 16-22 rings of hyaline cartilage.
* There is only one complete tracheal ring and others are being incomplete made of reinforcing cartilage. These are C shaped rings which gives C shape due to no attachment at the end of rings.
* The trachealis muscle joins the ends of rings and vertically joined by the fibrous connective tissue(annular ligaments of trachea). The epiglottis closes the opening of larynx during swallowing.