Final Exam - Airway Anatomy (Muscles) Flashcards
How long is the trachea normally?
How much is extrathoracic?
10-13 cm
4 cm
How wide is the inner diameter of the trachea normally?
The width of the thumb
What is the trachea comprised of?
Annular ligaments (in between cartilaginous rings)
How many tracheal cartilages are there in an adult?
20
What are the 2 puroposes of the tracheal rings not being completely circular?
- Improves swallowing
- Infolds during coughing allowing an increased expiration velocity
How fast can a cough be?
100 mph
Which main stem is larger?
Right
Which mainstem is longer and narrower?
Why?
Left mainstem (4-6 cm)
Has to route past heart
What are the angles of the left and right mainstem?
What is the total angle of the tracheal bifurcation?
Right: 25°
Left: 45°
Total: 70°
What is the tracheal bifurcation called?
Carina
Where is a cricothryoidotomy performed?
Median Cricothryroid Ligament
How much of inspired breath is through the nose?
50%
Why might you want to humidify air if somone has an advanced airway?
The air is bypassing the nasal passages and not being humidified
What happens to the tracheal anatomy if the head is back?
Increases tracheal length and narrows diameter
What happens to the tracheal anatomy if the head is down?
Decreases tracheal length and increases diameter
What connects the hyoid bone to the tracheal cartilage?
Thyrohyoid membrane
Where can you feel the ETT balloon inflate?
At the sternal notch
What is this muscle?
What does it do?
Cricothyroid muscle
Pulls the front of the thyroid down, tightening the vocal cords, causing a higher pitch
What is the opening between the vocal cords called?
Rima Glottidis
What laryngeal muscles tighten the vocal cords?
- Cricothyroid muscle
- Vocalis muscle
What laryngeal muscles adduct the vocal cords?
- Thyroarytenoid muscle
- Transverse arytenoid muscle
- Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
Which muscle abducts the vocal cords?
Posterior cricoarytenoid muscle
What is muscle 1?
What is unique about it?
Effect on rima glottidis?
- Cricothyroid muscle
- Only fully exterior laryngeal muscle
- No effect
What is number 2?
Effect on cords and rima glottidis?
- Vocalis muscle
- Tightens cords, no effect on rima glottidis
