Trachea
Key Points
- The trachea is 10-12cm in length
- The tracheal rings are composed of hyaline cartilage.
- The tracheal rings are C-shaped (except cricoid which is complete ring)
- The luminal surface is lined with a respiratory mucus membrane which secretes mucus.
- The oesophagus presses against the trachea posteriorly.
- The trachea begins level with the C6 vertebra.
- The bifurcation of trachea varies in reality from T4 to T7. The average position is T5.
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Relations in the thorax
Posterior:
- Oesophagus
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve
- Thymus
- Aorta
- Anterior part aortic arch with origins of common carotid and brachiocepahlic artery (moves to left lateral of trachea)
- SVC
- Brachiocephalic veins
- Vagus nerve
- Phrenic nerve
- Pleura
- Posterior pat of aortic arch and left subclavian artery (left side)
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