Everything about The Cricoid Cartilage totally explained
The
cricoid cartilage, or simply
cricoid (from the Greek
krikoeides meaning "ring-shaped"), is the only complete ring of
cartilage around the
trachea.
Location
It sits just inferior to the
thyroid cartilage in the
neck, and is joined to it medially by the median
cricothyroid ligament and postero-laterally by the cricothyroid joints.
Inferior to it are the rings of cartilage around the trachea (which are not continuous - rather they're C-shaped with a gap posteriorly). The cricoid is joined to the first tracheal ring by the
cricotracheal ligament, and this can be felt as a more yielding area between the firm thyroid cartilage and firmer cricoid.
It is also anatomically related to the
thyroid gland; although the thyroid
isthmus is inferior to it, the two lobes of the thyroid extend superiorly on each side of the cricoid as far as the thyroid cartilage above it.
The
posterior part of the cricoid is slightly broader than the anterior and lateral parts, and is called the
lamina, while the
anterior part is the band; this may be the reason for the common comparison made between the cricoid and a
signet ring.
Function
The function of the cricoid is to provide attachments for the various
muscles, cartilages, and
ligaments involved in opening and closing the
airway and in
speech production.
Composition
It is made of
hyaline cartilage, and so can become
calcified or even
ossified, particularly in old age.
Clinical significance
When
intubating a patient under
general anesthesia prior to surgery, the
anesthesiologist will press on the cricoid cartilage to compress the esophagus behind it so as to prevent
gastric reflux from occurring.
Gastric reflux could cause
aspiration if this isn't done considering the general anesthesia can cause relaxation of the
gastro-esophageal sphincter allowing stomach contents to ascend through the esophagus into the trachea.
Additional images
Image:Illu larynx.jpg|Larynx
Image:Traqueostomia.png|Tracheotomy neck profile
Image:Gray380.png|Muscles of the pharynx and cheek.
Image:Gray950.png|The cartilages of the larynx. Posterior view.
Image:Gray952.png|Ligaments of the larynx. Posterior view.
Image:Gray953.png|Sagittal section of the larynx and upper part of the trachea.
Image:Gray954.png|Coronal section of larynx and upper part of trachea.
Image:Gray955.png|The entrance to the larynx, viewed from behind.
Image:Gray959.png|Muscles of larynx. Side view. Right lamina of thyroid cartilage removed.
Image:Gray960.png|Muscles of the larynx, seen from above.
Image:Gray994.png|Sagittal section of nose mouth, pharynx, and larynx.
Image:Gray1195.png|Front view of neck.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Cricoid Cartilage'.
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