Cricoid
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| Cricoid | |
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| Anterolateral view of head and neck. (Cricoid cartilage labeled at center left.) | |
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| 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 |
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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 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 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 is not 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
 Larynx |
Tracheotomy neck profile.png
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
External links
- Illustration at nda.ox.ac.uk
- SUNY Figs 32:04-06 - "Skeleton of the larynx."
- Norman/Georgetown lesson11 (larynxsagsect)
General anatomy of neck (Throat • Pharynx • Larynx) | |
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| Cartilages | Cricoid • Thyroid (Laryngeal prominence) • Epiglottis • Arytenoid • Cuneiform • Corniculate |
| Ligaments | extrinsic ligaments: Thyrohyoid membrane (Lateral thyrohyoid ligament, Median thyrohyoid ligament) • Hyoepiglottic ligament • Cricotracheal ligament intrinsic ligaments: Cricothyroid ligament |
| Folds and related structures | folds: (Glossoepiglottic, Aryepiglottic, Vocal, Vestibular) Vocal ligament • Ventricle of the larynx • Infraglottic cavity • Vestibule of larynx • Rima glottidis • Glottis |
| Triangles of the neck | Anterior of the neck (Muscular, Carotid, Submandibular, Submental)
Posterior of the neck (Occipital, Subclavian) Suboccipital |
| Fascia | Deep cervical fascia (Pretrachial fascia, Prevertebral fascia, Investing layer) • Carotid sheath • Buccopharyngeal fascia |
| Other | Retropharyngeal space |
ca:Cricoide de:Ringknorpel fr:Cartilage cricoïde
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
