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Anatomy of Airway
Anatomy of Airway
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INTRODUCTION
AIRWAY ANATOMY
2)LOWER AIRWAY
• Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with
blood
The upper airway starts :
At the nostrils, extends
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Airway functionally begins at the nares , where air
first enters the body.
Septal cartilage divides nasal cavity into two nasal
fossae
ROOF-cribriform plate of the ethmoid
FLOOR-perpendicular to the face
LATERAL-3 turbinates
Little’s area on anterior & inferior part of septum; may
bleed during nasal intubation or introducing nasal
airway.
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Nasal septum is often deviated from the midline
causing one cavity to be larger than the other .
It is therefore essential for anaesthetist
to visualize the nasal cavity before
attempting nasal intubation
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FUNCTION OF NOSE
tonsillar pillars.
Contracture of mouth & lips-difficult
laryngoscopy.
Teeth loose or buck-difficult intubation
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1
Function of oral cavity
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3
Extends from posterior end of
turbinates to posterior pharyngeal
wall above soft palate.
Filters bacteria and foreign particles from
inspired air
Eustachian tube open into lateral surfaces,
and connect nasopharynx to middle ear,
each equalizes pressure of middle ear
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4
Extends from soft palate above to
epiglottis below& anteriorly from anterior
tonsillar pillar to posterior pharyngeal wall.
Mainly has a digestive function
Ring of waldeyer
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Lies between the fourth and sixth cervical
vertebrae.
Starts at the superior border of the epiglottis,
and extends to the inferior border of the cricoid
cartilage, where it narrows and becomes
continuous with the oesophagus .
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Assist in phonation
The thyrohyoid
membrane forms a C-
shaped barrier around the
anterior and lateral walls
of the supraglottis
Cricothyroid membrane-
easily
palpable,avascular,site for
surgical cricothyrotomy.
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SENSORY:
Above vocal cords- internal laryngeal nerve (b. of
MOTOR:
All muscles which move the larynx are
supplied by recurrent laryngeal n.except the
cricothyroid.
Cricothyroid:supplied by external laryngeal n. (b. of
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Superior and Recurrent laryngeal nerve
paralysis
Unilateral:
Hoarsness of voice and aspiration of liquid,
cough is ineffective
Bilateral:
Aphonia, Aspiration,Inability to cough
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Larygeal function: Airwa Protection
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Open Closed
Laryngeal function: Phonation
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Trachea Bronchioles
Main stem bronchi Terminal bronchioles
Segmental bronchi Respiratory
Subsegmental bronchi
bronchioles
Alveolar
ducts
Alveolar
sacs
alveoli
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10-13 cm long
Mean distance lips to carina male-28.5cm;
female- 25.2cm-----ETT fixation
Mean distance base of nose to carina male
31cm; female 28.4cm-----ETT fixation
1.5-2.5 cm wide
Extends from lower border of cricoid
cartilage(C6) to carina(T5) where it
bifurcates into right & left main bronchus
15-20 C shaped rings
Tracheostomy done at 2-3 tracheal ring.
ETT is placed above the carina.
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Tracheobronchial Tree
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Bronchioles
10-th to 15th
generation
Cartilage is
absent
Surrounded by spiral
muscle fiber
With no cartilage, airway
remains open due to
pressure gradients
Terminal Bronchioles
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Respiratory bronchioles
Acinus -respiratory bronchioles to the
alveoli
Ducts, sacs, alveoli
Alveoli
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