Anatomic.us > Respiratory System > Larynx

Trachea

Commonly known as windpipe, trachea is a cartilaginous structure. It comprises of C shaped rings of hyaline cartilage that are deficient in circumference posteriorly. It is basically a continuation of larynx from which air travels into the trachea, then to two bronchi and reaches the alveoli in the lungs ultimately.

The usual length of trachea is 11cm, and it is 2 to 2.5cm in diameter. It starts at the level of sixth cervical vertebrae and is divided into a pair of bronchi at the level of lower border of sixth thoracic vertebrae.

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Trachea


BLOOD SUPPLY

  • The main arterial supply is through inferior thyroid arteries and bronchial arteries that constitute an important anastomoses around the tracheobronchial tree.
  • The venous drainage comprises of inferior thyroid veins that ultimately drain into thyroid venous plexus which is located on the anterior side of the isthmus of thyroid gland.

LYMPHATICS

Lymph from trachea drain into pretracheal, paratracheal and tracheobronchial lymph nodes from which it is drained ultimately into deep cervical lymph nodes.

NERVE SUPPLY

  • Parasympathetic nerve supply comprises of sensory fibres to the mucous membrane that are derived from the vagi and recurrent laryngeal nerves.
  • Sympathetic nerve fibres are derived of middle cervical ganglion and innervate the muscle fibres of trachealis muscle and blood vessels along with the contribution of recurrent laryngeal nerve.

CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

  • The cilia play a vital role in the protective function of mucous membrane and are damaged because of prolonged smoking that can lead to the lung cancer.
  • Congenital malformations, which are abnormalities by birth, include tracheal agenesis, stenosis and atresia which are rare however.
  • Tracheal deviation can occur because of various anomalies of respiratory system including pleural effusion, pneumothorax, lungs cancer etc.


BLOOD SUPPLY

  • The main arterial supply is through inferior thyroid arteries and bronchial arteries that constitute an important anastomoses around the tracheobronchial tree.
  • The venous drainage comprises of inferior thyroid veins that ultimately drain into thyroid venous plexus which is located on the anterior side of the isthmus of thyroid gland.

LYMPHATICS

Lymph from trachea drain into pretracheal, paratracheal and tracheobronchial lymph nodes from which it is drained ultimately into deep cervical lymph nodes.

NERVE SUPPLY

  • Parasympathetic nerve supply comprises of sensory fibres to the mucous membrane that are derived from the vagi and recurrent laryngeal nerves.
  • Sympathetic nerve fibres are derived of middle cervical ganglion and innervate the muscle fibres of trachealis muscle and blood vessels along with the contribution of recurrent laryngeal nerve.

CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

  • The cilia play a vital role in the protective function of mucous membrane and are damaged because of prolonged smoking that can lead to the lung cancer.
  • Congenital malformations, which are abnormalities by birth, include tracheal agenesis, stenosis and atresia which are rare however.
  • Tracheal deviation can occur because of various anomalies of respiratory system including pleural effusion, pneumothorax, lungs cancer etc.
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