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The trachea, or windpipe, is a vital part of the human body's airway system. It is a tube that connects the larynx to the left and right main bronchi, facilitating the transport of air in and out of the lungs. The trachea is composed of several structures, including cartilage, ligaments, and muscles. The trachealis muscle, a band of smooth muscle, forms the posterior border of the trachea. This muscle is responsible for the contraction of the trachea during coughing, aiding in the expulsion of mucus and foreign substances. The trachea also contains other muscle groups such as the sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles. Therefore, while the trachea itself is not a muscle, it is supported and surrounded by various muscles that play essential roles in respiratory functions and the overall anatomy of the trachea.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Description | A membranous tube about 12 cm long attached to the larynx and lying anterior to the oesophagus |
| Composition | 16-20 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage; a fibromuscular wall; a trachealis muscle |
| Function | To transport air in and out of the lungs |
| Innervation | Recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve; sympathetic supply from the middle cervical ganglion |
| Blood supply | Inferior thyroid arteries and veins (upper trachea); bronchial arteries (lower trachea) |
| Lymphatic drainage | Pretracheal, paratracheal, and inferior deep cervical nodes |
| Relations | Sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles; thyroid gland; aortic arch; left common carotid artery; left brachiocephalic vein |
| Clinical considerations | Tracheomalacia; congenital tracheoesophageal fistula; tracheotomy |
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What You'll Learn
The trachea is a U-shaped structure
The trachea, or windpipe, is a U-shaped structure that is composed of hyaline cartilage on the anterior and lateral walls. The trachealis smooth muscle forms the posterior border of the trachea. The trachea is part of the conducting airway system that begins immediately inferior to the larynx, connected to the cricothyroid cartilage by the cricotracheal ligament. The trachea is surrounded by 16–20 rings of hyaline cartilage, which are 4 millimetres high in adults, incomplete and C-shaped. These rings are highly elastic but may calcify with age.
The trachea originates at the inferior edge of the larynx and connects to the left and right main bronchi. The trachea is lined with interspersed layers of column-shaped cells with cilia. Goblet cells, which are glandular and column-shaped, produce mucins, the main component of mucus. Mucus helps to moisten and protect the airways by trapping inhaled foreign particles. The cilia then move the mucus and trapped particles up and out of the trachea.
The trachea is located inside the anterior visceral (pretracheal) compartment of the neck. It begins at the inferior border of the larynx, at the level of the sixth cervical vertebra (C6) and ends at the carina, the point where the trachea branches into the left and right main bronchi, at the level of the fourth thoracic vertebra (T4). The trachea is more circular and more vertical in children compared to adults, and its position may change with breathing.
The trachea is related to many anatomical structures as it travels between the neck and mediastinum. The cervical part of the trachea is covered anteriorly by connective tissue and skin. The thyroid gland stretches across the upper trachea, with the isthmus overlying the second to fourth rings, and the lobes stretching to the level of the fifth or sixth cartilage. The blood vessels of the thyroid rest on the trachea next to the isthmus. In front of the lower trachea lies the manubrium of the sternum, the remnants of the thymus in adults.
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It is part of the tracheobronchial tree
The trachea is a D-shaped fibrocartilaginous respiratory organ. It is supported by 12 to 20 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage. The trachea originates at the inferior edge of the larynx and connects to the left and main stem bronchi. The trachea is part of the tracheobronchial tree, which is composed of the trachea, the bronchi, and the bronchioles that transport air from the environment to the lungs for gas exchange. The tracheobronchial tree is essential for the passage of oxygen and other gases to travel to the alveoli for diffusion. The trachea is a conducting airway and is part of the conducting airway system.
The trachealis muscle is a band of smooth muscle that connects the free ends of the tracheal cartilages. It forms the posterior border of the trachea and allows the trachea to contract and decrease its diameter. This muscle is vital for coughing and getting rid of secretions, foreign particles, saliva, or food. The trachealis muscle also aids in expectoration with contraction against a closed epiglottis, resulting in a sudden opening that helps to expel substances from the airway.
The trachea is surrounded by connective tissue and skin. Several other structures pass over or sit on the trachea, including the jugular arch, the sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles, and the thyroid gland. The trachea receives blood from the inferior thyroid arteries and veins, as well as from bronchial arteries. The arteries that supply the trachea do so via small branches that approach the trachea from the sides.
The trachea can be affected by conditions such as tracheomalacia, which is the tendency for the trachea to collapse due to increased external pressure or decreased compliance. This can be congenital or acquired after birth due to compression from nearby masses, swelling, or trauma. Interventions for tracheomalacia may include beta-agonists, muscarinic agonists, positive pressure ventilation, or surgery.
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The trachealis muscle is vital for coughing
The trachea is a U-shaped structure composed of hyaline cartilage on the anterior and lateral walls. The trachealis muscle forms the posterior border of the trachea. The trachealis muscle is a longitudinal strip of smooth muscle that connects the ends of the incomplete C-shaped rings of cartilage in the trachea. The trachea is a conducting airway that allows for the passage of oxygen and other gases to the alveoli for diffusion. The trachea also prevents foreign particles, such as dust, from reaching the lungs.
The trachea is also susceptible to various conditions that can affect its function, including tracheal cancer, tracheal obstruction, tracheal stenosis, tracheitis, and tracheomalacia. Tracheomalacia is a condition characterised by the weakness and increased collapsibility of the trachea, which can be congenital or acquired. During coughing, the trachea is more susceptible to collapse in individuals with tracheomalacia.
In summary, the trachealis muscle plays a crucial role in the coughing process by contracting and reducing the diameter of the trachea, allowing for the forceful expulsion of substances. This helps to maintain the health of the respiratory system by removing unwanted particles and secretions from the body.
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The trachea is surrounded by 16-20 rings of cartilage
The trachea is a D-shaped fibrocartilaginous respiratory organ. It is composed of 16 to 20 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage, which are 4 millimetres high in adults. These rings are composed of fibroelastic tissue and hyaline cartilage, which provide support to the trachea and prevent it from collapsing during inhalation. The trachealis muscle, a band of smooth muscle, connects the ends of the incomplete rings and runs along the back wall of the trachea. This muscle is responsible for the trachea's ability to contract and decrease its diameter during coughing, aiding in the expulsion of mucus and foreign objects.
The trachea originates at the inferior edge of the larynx and connects to the left and right main bronchi. It is part of the tracheobronchial tree, which includes the bronchi and bronchioles, and its primary function is to facilitate the passage of air in and out of the lungs. The trachea is a midline structure, typically occupying a position just anterior to the oesophagus. However, it can sometimes be displaced to the right by the aortic arch.
The trachea is surrounded by several structures, including the jugular arch, the sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles, and the thyroid gland. The thyroid's lobes stretch to the level of the fifth or sixth cartilage of the trachea. The blood vessels of the thyroid rest on the trachea, with superior thyroid arteries joining above and inferior thyroid veins below. The trachea also receives blood supply from bronchial arteries, which branch off to supply the anterior and posterior parts of the trachea.
The trachea is composed of four histological layers. The innermost layer, known as the mucosa, is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. Goblet cells present in this layer produce mucus, which helps trap inhaled particles. The second layer, the submucosa, contains connective tissue, mucus glands, smooth muscle, vessels, nerves, and lymphatics. The third layer is the musculocartilaginous layer, represented by the cartilaginous rings and intervening smooth muscle. The outermost layer is the adventitia, consisting of connective tissue that anchors the trachea to adjacent soft tissues.
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The trachea is innervated by the recurrent laryngeal branch of the vagus nerve
The trachea is a U-shaped structure composed of cartilage, connective tissue, and muscle. It is a part of the conducting airway system that allows for the passage of air, oxygen, and other gases into and out of the lungs. The trachealis muscle, which forms the posterior border of the trachea, is essential for coughing and expelling substances from the airway.
While the trachea is not entirely composed of muscle, it does contain smooth muscle in its submucosa layer. This smooth muscle allows the trachea to alter its diameter and contract, which is necessary for bronchoconstriction and expectoration. The trachealis muscle contracts during coughing, reducing the size of the trachea lumen and aiding in the expulsion of substances through the force generated.
The trachea receives innervation from the vagus nerve, specifically through its recurrent laryngeal branches. The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve, exits the skull and travels along the common carotid arteries until it reaches the superior mediastinum. At this point, the left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves branch off and ascend towards the larynx, running in the opposite direction to the vagus nerve.
The left recurrent laryngeal nerve branches off the vagus nerve at the aortic arch, passing in front of and then wrapping underneath it. It then travels superiorly in the left tracheoesophageal groove, a groove at the junction of the trachea and esophagus. The right recurrent laryngeal nerve, on the other hand, branches off the vagus nerve at the right subclavian artery, passing underneath it and ascending in the right tracheoesophageal groove.
These recurrent laryngeal nerves provide motor and sensory innervation to the trachea, as well as the larynx, esophagus, and inferior constrictor muscles. They control the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, opening, closing, and adjusting the tension of the vocal cords. Additionally, they carry sensory information from the mucous membranes of the larynx and supply sensory, secretory, and motor fibers to the cervical segments of the trachea and esophagus.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the trachea is a membranous tube, also known as the windpipe, that is supported by C-shaped sections of cartilage. The trachealis muscle, which is made of smooth muscle fibres, forms the posterior border of the trachea.
The trachea is part of the tracheobronchial tree and its primary function is to allow the passage of air in and out of the lungs. It is essential for the passage of oxygen and other gases to travel to the alveoli for diffusion.
Tracheomalacia is the tendency for the trachea to collapse when there is increased external pressure, such as during inhalation or exhalation. It can be caused by congenital factors or by things that develop after birth, such as compression from nearby masses or swelling, or trauma.
