| In order to grasp a firm understanding of how we can manage tracheostomy complications, we must be confident in our knowledge of the upper airway anatomy. The trachea is a tube that is 4 inches in length, and in most adults it is less than ½ inch in diameter. The trachea begins at the larynx and travels behind the sternum. The trachea is composed of approximately 20 rings of cartilage, muscle, and connective tissue and is lined with a mucosa. This provides a “rigid” feel, similar to the tube within a roll of toilet paper. It divides into two mainstem bronchi, one bronchus per lung. The esophagus lies posterior to the trachea. | | | | |
