Anaes SAQs · Applied anatomy

Airway and larynx anatomy

Primary — laryngeal cartilages (single: thyroid, cricoid, epiglottis; paired: arytenoid, corniculate, cuneiform); cricoid as only complete ring; cricothyroid membrane and front-of-neck access; intrinsic muscles (posterior cricoarytenoid the only abductor; cricothyroid the tensor); superior laryngeal nerve (internal sensory above cords, external to cricothyroid) and recurrent laryngeal nerve (motor to all except cricothyroid, sensory below cords); unilateral vs bilateral RLN injury; right main bronchus wider/shorter/vertical; paediatric airway (high anterior larynx C3-C4, U-shaped epiglottis, narrowest at cricoid).