Larynx, hypopharynx & trachea
General
Anatomy & histology-trachea
Author: Adriana Handra-Luca, M.D., Ph.D.
Topic Completed: 1 October 2012
Minor changes: 2 March 2021
Copyright: 2002-2021, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Trachea histology [title]
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Anatomy | Histology | Diagrams / tables | Microscopic (histologic) imagesCite this page: Handra-Luca A. Anatomy & histology-trachea. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/tracheahistology.html. Accessed December 3rd, 2021.
Definition / general
- Composed of imperfect rings of hyaline cartilage, fibrous tissue, muscular fibers, mucous membranes and glands
Anatomy
- Cartilaginous and membranous tube (also called windpipe), extending from lower larynx at C6 to upper border of T5 vertebrae, where it divides into right and left mainstem bronchi
- Flattened posteriorly
- 11 cm long, 2 - 2.5 cm in diameter, diameter greater in men than women, greater in adults than children
- Anteriorly: contacts thyroid isthmus, inferior thyroid veins, neck muscles, cervical fascia, anterior jugular veins, manubrium sterni, thymus, left innominate vein, aortic arch, innominate and left common carotid arteries, deep cardiac plexus
- Posteriorly: contacts esophagus
- Right bronchus appears to be a more direct continuation of trachea and so is the site of most foreign bodies
- Supplied by inferior thyroid arteries
Histology
Cartilage:
Fibrous tissue:
Muscular tissue:
Mucus membrane:
- 16 - 20 imperfect rings, with circular cartilaginous defect posterior and replaced by fibrous tissue and muscular fibers
- Each cartilage is 4 mm in depth, 1 mm in thickness
- Are elastic but may be calcified later in life
Fibrous tissue:
- Thick layer covers outer surface of cartilaginous ring, thin layer covers inner surface
- Both layers merge at upper and lower margins of cartilaginous rings
Muscular tissue:
- Longitudinal and transverse layers of smooth muscle
Mucus membrane:
- Continuous with laryngeal and bronchial membranes
- Ciliated columnar epithelium overlying areolar and lymphoid tissue with elastic fibers, blood vessels, nerves, mucous glands
Diagrams / tables
Images hosted on other servers:
Trachea and bronchi
Tracheal bifurcation
Transverse section
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Transverse section
