trachea

Home > ... > Medicine > Anatomy and Physiology > Anatomy and Physiology > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side World Encyclopedia Concise Oxford Companion to ... The Columbia Encyclopedia, ...

trachea

trachea or windpipe, principal tube that carries air to and from the lungs. It is about 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm) long and about 3/4 in. (1.9 cm) in diameter in the adult. It extends from the larynx to the bronchial tubes and is situated in front of the esophagus (see respiration ). The trachea consists of a supporting layer of connective and muscular tissue in which are embedded from 16 to 20 U-shaped rings of hard cartilage that encircle the front of the tube. Tiny hairs, or cilia, in the mucous membrane lining keep dust and other foreign particles from entering the lungs. The foreign material becomes trapped in the mucus and is swept by the beating cilia to the nose or mouth, where it is discharged from the body. The air tubes of insects and other arthropods are also called trachea.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-trachea" title="Facts and information about trachea">trachea</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"trachea." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 8 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"trachea." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 8, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-trachea.html

"trachea." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved December 08, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-trachea.html

Learn more about citation styles

TRACHEA

Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language | 1998 | | Â© Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language 1998, originally published by Oxford University Press 1998. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

TRACHEA [Stress: ‘tra-KEE-a’]. An anatomical term for the tube carrying air to and from the lungs, commonly known as the windpipe. See SPEECH.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O29-TRACHEA" title="Facts and information about trachea">trachea</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

TOM McARTHUR. "TRACHEA." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 8 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

TOM McARTHUR. "TRACHEA." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (December 8, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-TRACHEA.html

TOM McARTHUR. "TRACHEA." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Retrieved December 08, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-TRACHEA.html

Learn more about citation styles

trachea

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

trachea (windpipe) Airway that extends from the larynx to about the middle of the sternum (breastbone). Reinforced with rings of cartilage, it is lined with hair-like cilia that prevent dirt and other substances from entering the lungs.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-trachea" title="Facts and information about trachea">trachea</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"trachea." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 8 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"trachea." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (December 8, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-trachea.html

"trachea." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved December 08, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-trachea.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

Rate these entries|See all related entries

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Inflammatory pseudotumor of the trachea. (Original Article). Magazine article from: Ear, Nose and Throat Journal; 7/1/2003
	Pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)(Case study) Magazine article from: Ear, Nose and Throat Journal; 5/1/2008
	Postintubation tracheal stenosis in a blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna) resolved with tracheal resection and anastomosis.(Clinical Report)(Clinical report) Magazine article from: Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery; 9/1/2006

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	First trachea transplant without immunosuppression. Newspaper article from: NewsRx Science; 12/7/2008; 700+ words ; ...doubly innovative operation - the first trachea transplant and the first tissue transplant...international team that made possible the first trachea transplant and the first tissue transplant...an operation on the upper part of the trachea but nothing could be done to repair the...
	Autotransplantation of the trachea: Experimental evaluation of a reconstructive technique for extended hemilaryngectomy defects Magazine article from: The Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology; 2/1/1999; ; 700+ words ; Vascularized segments of trachea were used to repair extended hemilaryngectomy...defects in a rabbit model. The cervical trachea was revascularized in a first stage...In a second stage, the cervical trachea was isolated and transformed into a...
	Dimensions & shape of the trachea in the neonates, children & adults in northwest India Magazine article from: Indian Journal of Medical Research; 7/1/2000; ; 700+ words ; ...a detailed study of trachea was undertaken on material...this study consisted of tracheae obtained from 370 adults...autopsy. The entire trachea starting from its upper...solution. In addition, tracheae and principal bronchi...measurements of. the trachea were taken with the...
	Innominate artery compression of the trachea: an unusual cause of apnea in a 12-year-old boy.(Case Report) Magazine article from: Southern Medical Journal; 11/1/2003; ; 700+ words ; ...Innominate artery compression of the trachea is a common cause of airway obstruction...symptomatic innominate artery compression of the trachea. We reviewed the literature regarding...instances of vascular compression of the trachea are asymptomatic, symptomatic cases are...
	General anaesthesia in a patient with undiagnosed "saber-sheath" trachea Magazine article from: Anaesthesia and Intensive Care; 8/1/2001; ; 700+ words ; SUMMARY Saber-sheath trachea describes an abnormality in the shape of the trachea caused by underlying disease processes. We present...stenosis in a patient with undiagnosed saber-sheath trachea, in which there was unexpected difficulty in ventilating...
	The Body Shop: Trachea Transplant, CBS Transcript from: CBS This Morning; 5/24/1999; ; 700+ words ; ...of his life, Casey had his trachea reconstructed eight times...HNIDA: Casey had his second trachea transplant three weeks ago...do. HNIDA: The supply of tracheas for transplantation come from...the person who donated the trachea from England, I thank them...
	Spontaneous respiration via an open trachea for resection of a high tracheal stenosis in a child Magazine article from: Anaesthesia and Intensive Care; 8/1/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...managed spontaneously breathing via an open trachea and a laryngeal mask. Anaesthesia was maintained by propofol infusion. When the trachea was opened, supplemental oxygen was administered...the distal segment. At no point was the trachea intubated. Key Words: ANAESTHETIC TECHNIQUES...
	Involvement of carbon monoxide in the innervation of the canine cervical esophagus and trachea Magazine article from: The Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology; 2/1/2000; ; 700+ words ; ...of the canine cervical esophagus and trachea by means of immunohistochemistry using...submucosal glands of the esophagus and trachea. We found HO-2-immunoreactive neurons in ganglia in the trachea and in the myenteric plexus of the esophagus...
	Regenerative Medicine of the Trachea: The First Human Case Magazine article from: The Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology; 6/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...technique was applied to repair of the trachea of a 78-year-old woman with thyroid...right hemithyroidectomy, resection of the trachea, and tracheoplasty using the scaffold. The right half of three rings of the trachea was resected, and the scaffold material...
	RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CERVICAL TRACHEA Magazine article from: The Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology; 1/1/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...complete loss of a segment of the cervical trachea is not a common clinical entity. On the...clinical reconstruction of the cervical trachea. Thus far, a consistently satisfactory...for replacement of a resected length of trachea, using grafts or prostheses is yet to...