Cartilage Larynx

Epiglottis Leaf-shaped cartilage which closes larynx during swallowing. 

Mr. Plex ambles forward. Sir, he says, I only show cards like that to women with tracheas extending from the larynx s cricoid cartilage down to the division of the left and right mainstem bronchi at the fifth thorasic vertebra. ... 

The trachea passes from the larynx to the level of the fourth thoracic vertebra, where it divides into the two main bronchi that enter the right and left lungs. The anterior and lateral walls of the trachea and main bronchi are composed of about 20 C-shaped plates of cartilage, which are joined together by a posterior wall composed of bundles of interlacing smooth-muscle fibers, epithelial cells, mucus glands, and elastic fibers. A schematic diagram of the trachea and main bronchi is presented in Fig. 2. Just after the tracheal... 

Using a lighted laryngoscope, visualize the larynx and pass the endotracheal tube into the trachea under direct vision. Have an assistant apply firm pressure over the cricoid cartilage to prevent passive reflux of gastric contents into the oropharynx. 

Last, elastic cartilage is located in the outer ear, auditory tube, epiglottis, and larynx. This type of cartilage provides shape and support. With a high concentration of cells and elastin fibers, this tissue can deform easily, but it returns to its original shape without damage. The specific characteristics of each type of cartilage are shown in Fig. 17.2. 

The patient is supine with the head in neutral position. A pillow is placed across the shoulders to allow the head to be slightly hyper-extended. The skin covering the space between the cricoid and the thyroid cartilage is infiltrated with 1% xylocaine intracutaneously (to produce orange skin ). This infiltration is done 1cm from the mid-line bilaterally. When introducing the electrode, the larynx should be steady. 

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