Trachea and

Bronchi
Dr.Hassan Shaibah

Tracheobronchial anatomy
Images downloaded from From www.vh.org

Tracheal Displacement Due to Goiter

a mobile cartilaginous and membranous tube

Right bronchs
Wider
Shorter

Left bronchus
Narrower
C6 Longer
More horizontal

T4/5

 C shaped rings of
hyaline cartilages
Free Posteriorly.
Cartilages are
connected by a muscle

11.25 cm
Trachealis
Muscle

Cricoid Cartilage

RT
middle
lobar
bronchu
s

RT
Main
bronchu
s
RT
Upper
lobar
bronchu
s

LT
Main
bronchu
s

RT
lower
lobar
bronchu

LT
Upper
lobar
bronchu
s
LT
lower
lobar
bronchu

Main carina:
Concepts of anterior and
posterior

RT
Segman
tal
bronchi

LT
Segman
tal
bronchi

Relations of the Trachea

At Level of superior
Mediastinum

Anteriorly: The sternum, thymus, left brachiocephalic v., origins of the brachiocephalic and left
common carotid a., & arch of the aorta
Posteriorly: esophagus & left recurrentlaryngeal n.
Right side: azygos v., right vagus n., & the pleura
Left side: arch of the aorta, left common carotid
&left subclavian a., the left vagus & left phrenic n., &
the pleura.

Brachiocephali
c truck

LT common carotid
a.
LT brachiocephalic v.
thymus
sternum
Anterior the level of T1

esophagus
LT
Recurrent
laryngeal N

Posteriorly at level of T1

Pleura

RT vagus n.

Right at level of T1

Pleura

LT subclavian a
left vagus n.
LT phrenic n.

LT common carotid a

Left at level of T1

LT brachiocephalic v.
LT common carotid
a.
Brachiocephalic
Trunk

thymus
The sternum

LT brachiocephalic v.
LT common carotid
a.
Brachiocephalic
Trunk

thymus
The sternum

anterior

LT subclavian a.
left vagus n.
LT phrenic n.
Pleura

LT common carotid a

Left at level of T1

RT vagus n.
Pleura

Right

Arch of aorta
sternum

thymus

Anterior at level of T4

left vagus n.
Pleura
LT phrenic n.

Arch of aorta

Left at level of T1

Azygos v.
RT vagus n.

Pleura

Right at level of T1

Posterior at level of T4

At level T4

At level T3

At Level of the neck

Anterior: thyroid gland, inf. Thyroid vein with
some neck muscles
Posterior : right and left recurrent laryngeal
nerve
Lateral: lobes of the thyroid gland and carotid
sheath

thyroid gland

inf. Thyroid vein

Posterior
right and left recurrent laryngeal nerve

Lateral
Lobes of the thyroid gland & carotid sheath

Intraluminal disease and

extrinsic compression
Tumor invading through
posterior wall.
Tumor invading left and
right main bronchi
Narrowing of lower third of
trachea

48

Tracheal appearances
A

expansion during inhalation

C

circumferential

BI, All Rights Reserved,

2005

Normal shape
collapse

50

Saber sheath

Dynamic collapse Crescent shape collapse

Nerve Supply of the

Trachea

sensory nerve supply is from the vagi and the

recurrent laryngeal nerves.
Sympathetic nerves supply the trachealis muscle

Blood Supply of the Trachea

upper 2/3 are supplied by the inferior thyroid
arteries
lower 1/3 is supplied by the bronchial arteries.