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The trachea, or windpipe, is a membranous tube about 12cm long that is attached to the larynx. It is supported by 12 to 20 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage, which reinforce the trachea and prevent it from collapsing during inhalation. The trachea also contains muscle, which is known as the trachealis muscle. This muscle is composed of transverse smooth muscle fibres that narrow the tracheal lumen upon contraction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Trachea structure | A D-shaped fibrocartilaginous respiratory organ |
| Trachea length | 12cm |
| Trachea composition | 16-20 tracheal cartilages anterolaterally and a fibromuscular wall posteriorly |
| Trachea function | Reinforced by cartilage rings to prevent collapse during inhalation |
| Trachea muscle | Trachealis muscle |
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What You'll Learn
The trachea is a U-shaped structure composed of hyaline cartilage
The trachea, or windpipe, is a U-shaped structure composed of hyaline cartilage. It is a membranous tube about 12cm long, attached to the larynx and lying anterior to the oesophagus. The trachea is supported by 12 to 20 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage. These rings reinforce the trachea and prevent it from collapsing during inhalation. The trachea is part of the conducting airway system that begins immediately inferior to the larynx and is connected to the cricothyroid cartilage (C6 level) by the cricotracheal ligament. The trachea is composed of four histological layers. The innermost layer is the mucosa, which is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. The trachea is lined by ciliated pseudostratified columnar and goblet cells that create the tracheal mucosa.
The posterior wall of the trachea has no cartilage and contains an elastic ligamentous membrane with bundles of smooth muscles called the trachealis muscle. The trachealis muscle is composed of transverse smooth muscle fibres that narrow the tracheal lumen upon contraction. The trachealis muscle contracts during coughing, reducing the size of the lumen of the trachea. This action causes air to move more rapidly through the trachea, which helps to expel mucus and foreign objects.
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The trachealis muscle forms the posterior border of the trachea
The trachea, or windpipe, is a membranous tube about 12cm long that is attached to the larynx. It is supported by 12 to 20 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage, which reinforce the trachea and prevent it from collapsing during inhalation. The trachealis muscle forms the posterior border of the trachea. This is a smooth muscle that contracts during coughing, narrowing the tracheal lumen and causing air to move more rapidly through the trachea, which helps to expel mucus and foreign objects. The trachealis muscle is supported by the trachea's membranous wall, which lacks cartilage. The trachea consists of four histological layers, with the innermost layer lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. The trachea is part of the conducting airway system that begins immediately inferior to the larynx and is connected to the cricothyroid cartilage by the cricotracheal ligament.
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The trachea is part of the conducting airway system
The trachea is a D-shaped fibrocartilaginous respiratory organ that is part of the conducting airway system. It is a membranous tube about 12cm long that is attached to the larynx and lies anterior to the oesophagus. The trachea consists of 16-20 tracheal cartilages anterolaterally and a fibromuscular wall posteriorly. The tracheal cartilages are composed of hyaline cartilage and are interconnected by fibroelastic tissue. They support the trachea and keep it open during pressure changes that accompany air ventilation.
The trachea is lined by ciliated pseudostratified columnar and goblet cells that create the tracheal mucosa. The posterior wall of the trachea has no cartilage and contains an elastic ligamentous membrane with bundles of smooth muscles called the trachealis muscle. The trachealis muscle is composed of transverse smooth muscle fibres that narrow the tracheal lumen upon contraction. Contraction of the trachealis muscle during coughing reduces the size of the tracheal lumen, causing air to move more rapidly through the trachea and helping to expel mucus and foreign objects.
The trachea is sufficiently flexible and elastic to permit the transient expansion of the oesophagus during swallowing. The upper part of the trachea receives and drains blood through the inferior thyroid arteries and veins, while the lower trachea receives blood from bronchial arteries.
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The trachea is a fibrocartilaginous respiratory organ
The trachea is a D-shaped fibrocartilaginous respiratory organ. It is also known as the windpipe and is a membranous tube about 12cm long that is attached to the larynx. It is supported by 12 to 20 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage. The cartilage rings reinforce the trachea and prevent it from collapsing during inhalation.
The trachea is composed of 16-20 tracheal cartilages anterolaterally and a fibromuscular wall posteriorly. The tracheal cartilages are made of hyaline cartilage and are interconnected by fibroelastic tissue. They support the trachea and keep it open during pressure changes that accompany air ventilation.
The posterior wall of the trachea is formed by the trachealis muscle, making the cartilages appear as incomplete C-shaped rings. The trachealis muscle is composed of transverse smooth muscle fibres that narrow the tracheal lumen upon contraction. The trachea is sufficiently flexible and elastic to permit the transient expansion of the oesophagus during swallowing.
The entire tracheal lumen is lined by ciliated pseudostratified columnar and goblet cells that create the tracheal mucosa. The trachea is part of the conducting airway system that begins immediately inferior to the larynx connected to the cricothyroid cartilage (C6 level) by the cricotracheal ligament.
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The thyroid gland lies on top of the trachea
The trachea is a D-shaped fibrocartilaginous respiratory organ. It is supported by 12 to 20 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage. The trachea also has muscle in the form of the trachealis muscle, which forms the posterior border of the trachea. The trachealis muscle is composed of transverse smooth muscle fibres that narrow the tracheal lumen upon contraction.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the trachea has muscle. The trachealis muscle forms the posterior border of the trachea.
The trachealis muscle is composed of transverse smooth muscle fibres that narrow the tracheal lumen upon contraction.
The trachealis muscle contracts during coughing, reducing the size of the tracheal lumen. This causes air to move more rapidly through the trachea, helping to expel mucus and foreign objects.
The trachea is a U-shaped or D-shaped fibrocartilaginous respiratory organ. It is also known as the windpipe.
The trachea is part of the conducting airway system that begins immediately inferior to the larynx. It is connected to the cricothyroid cartilage (C6 level) by the cricotracheal ligament.
