Anatomy study note · Thorax
Trachea
A mobile tube of cartilage and membrane from the lower border of the cricoid cartilage (C6) to its division into the main bronchi at the sternal angle (T4/T5 disc). About 11 cm long and 2.5 cm wide in the adult.
Key points
- C6 (cricoid) → T4/5 (sternal angle).
- U-shaped cartilages, open behind (trachealis).
- Carina = ridge at the bifurcation.
- Behind: oesophagus + left recurrent laryngeal nerve.
- TOF/oesophageal atresia from faulty septum.
- Trachea: foregut endoderm (epithelium) + splanchnic mesoderm.
- Tracheo-oesophageal fistula.
- C-rings of hyaline cartilage + trachealis.
- Pseudostratified ciliated columnar with goblet cells.
The full note in the atlas also covers
Relations · Features · Blood supply · Nerve supply · Lymph drainage · Histology · Development · Clinical notes
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Written from
- Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 5, PDF pp. 561–573, 595–598
- Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 14, PDF pp. 196, 207–208, 210
- BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 15, PDF p. 271
More from the thorax
- Tricuspid valve
- Vagus nerve
- Aortic valve
- Arch of aorta
- Ascending aorta
- Azygos vein
- Brachiocephalic artery
- Brachiocephalic veins
- Bronchopulmonary segments
- Coronary sinus and cardiac veins
- Costal cartilages
- Descending thoracic aorta
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