Cricoid cartilage

Cricoid cartilage
Anterolateral view of head and neck. (Cricoid cartilage labeled at center left.)
The ligaments of the larynx. Antero-lateral view. (Cricoid cartilage visible near bottom center.)
Latin	cartilago cricoidea
Gray's	subject #236 1074
Precursor	4th and 6th branchial arch
MeSH	Cricoid+Cartilage

The cricoid cartilage, or simply cricoid (from the Greek krikoeides meaning "ring-shaped"), is the only complete ring of cartilage around the trachea.

Location

The cricoid cartilage 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 are 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 cartilage 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: this is known as the Sellick manoeuvre.

Gastric reflux could cause aspiration if this is not done considering the general anesthesia can cause relaxation of the gastroesophageal sphincter allowing stomach contents to ascend through the esophagus into the trachea.

Additional images

Larynx	Tracheotomy neck profile	Muscles of the pharynx and cheek.	The cartilages of the larynx. Posterior view.
Ligaments of the larynx. Posterior view.	Sagittal section of the larynx and upper part of the trachea.	Coronal section of larynx and upper part of trachea.	The entrance to the larynx, viewed from behind.
Muscles of larynx. Side view. Right lamina of thyroid cartilage removed.	Muscles of the larynx, seen from above.	Sagittal section of nose mouth, pharynx, and larynx.	Front view of neck.

See also

• Post-cricoid carcinoma
• Tracheotomy

External links

• Illustration at nda.ox.ac.uk
• SUNY Figs 32:04-06 - "Skeleton of the larynx."
• lesson11 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (larynxsagsect)

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