Anatomy of the larynx, trachea and bronchi

Burdett, Edward; Mitchell, Viki

doi:10.1016/j.mpaic.2008.06.005

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Volume 9, Issue 8 , Pages 329-333, August 2008

Anatomy of the larynx, trachea and bronchi

Edward Burdett, FRCA, qualified from UCL Medical School in 1999 and now works as a Specialist Registrar in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care in the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London

Viki Mitchell, FRCA, is a Consultant Anaesthetist at University College Hospital, London. She qualified from King’s College, London, and trained in anaesthesia in London. Her specialist interests are maxillofacial anaesthesia and management of the difficult airway

Abstract

The anatomy of the airway is a core topic in anaesthesia, and a detailed knowledge is expected for examinations as well as in everyday practice. This article presents the most important aspects of airway anatomy from the point of view of the anaesthetist, with particular emphasis on understanding the clinical implications of the relevant structures and how they interact. The anatomy of the larynx and its innervation is discussed in detail, and put into clinical context as appropriate. Bronchial anatomy is described to aid navigation during bronchoscopy. Where possible, diagrams are used to help understanding.

Keywords: adult, airway, anaesthesia, anatomy, glottis, larynx, trachea