Trachea Structure and Location

Trachea Structure and Location

• The trachea is a mobile, cartilaginous, and membranous tube that begins at the lower border of the cricoid cartilage at the level of the sixth cervical vertebra.
• It descends in the midline of the neck and ends in the thorax at the carina, dividing into right and left primary bronchi at the level of the sternal angle (opposite the disc between the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae).

Trachea Wall Composition

• The trachea is kept patent by the presence of U-shaped cartilaginous bars (rings) of hyaline cartilage embedded in its wall.
• The posterior free ends of the cartilage are connected by smooth muscle, the trachealis muscle.

Mucous Membrane of the Trachea

• The mucous membrane of the trachea is lined with pseudostratified, ciliated columnar epithelium.
• It contains many goblet cells and tubular mucous glands.

Relations in the Neck

• Anteriorly, the trachea is related to the skin, fascia, and isthmus of the thyroid gland (in front of the second, third, and fourth rings).

Trachea Structure and Location

• The trachea is a mobile, cartilaginous, and membranous tube that begins as a continuation of the larynx.
• It starts at the lower border of the cricoid cartilage at the level of the sixth cervical vertebra.

Trachea Path in the Neck

• The trachea descends in the midline of the neck.

Trachea in the Thorax

• The trachea ends at the carina, dividing into right and left primary (main) bronchi.
• This division occurs at the level of the sternal angle, opposite the disc between the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae.

Trachea Wall Composition

• The trachea has a fibroelastic tube kept patent by the presence of U-shaped cartilaginous bars (rings) of hyaline cartilage embedded in its wall.
• The posterior free ends of the cartilage are connected by smooth muscle, the trachealis muscle.

Trachea Lining

• The mucous membrane of the trachea is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium.
• The lining contains many goblet cells and tubular mucous glands.

Relations in the Neck

• Anteriorly, the trachea relates to the skin, fascia, and isthmus of the thyroid gland (in front of the second, third, and fourth rings).