Trachea And Esophagus Anatomy

The trachea lies behind the sternum breastbone and in front of the esophagus in the area of the chest between the lungs known as the mediastinum. The trachea is a part of the respiratory system while the esophagus is a part of the digestive system.

Esophagus Pain Neck

Each tracheal ring is around 1 2 mm thick and 4 5 mm deep being open at the posterior side of the trachea where it is closest to the esophagus the passage between the throat and stomach 4.

Trachea and esophagus anatomy. The trachea is a median structure but near its lower end deviates slightly to the right resulting in the left main bronchus crossing anterior to the esophagus. The trachea is the longer tube but the esophagus is more flexible. Published on nov 25 2007 this video illustrates the anatomical differences between the esophagus which has no defined posterior structures and the trachea which has recognizable defined.

Its located just behind the trachea. The beginning of the trachea lies beneath the thyroid gland with the inferior end connecting with the carinathe area in which the main bronchus separates into two bronchi one of which enters each lung. Trachea also known as the windpipe is a part of the respiratory system and it leads to lungs whereas esophagus also known as foodpipe is a part of the digestive system.

The firmness of the cartilages helps to keep the trachea from collapsing 8 while their flexibility allows it to move freely during breathing. The esophagus runs behind. The trachea belongs to the respiratory system whereas the esophagus belongs to the digestive system.

The trachea descends anterior to the esophagus enters the superior mediastinum and divides into right and left main bronchi. The esophagus is a muscular tube connecting the throat pharynx with the stomach. The connective tissue beneath the tracheal epithelium contains lymphatic nodules mucous and serous glands and the tracheal cartilages.

The trachea begins just under the larynx voice box and runs down. The outermost layer of the trachea called the adventitia is fibrous connective tissue that blends into the adventitia of other organs of the mediastinum especially the esophagus. The main difference between trachea and esophagus is that trachea is the major bronchi or the windpipe of humans whereas esophagus is the food pipe which connects the pharynx to the stomach.

The trachea transports air while the esophagus transports food. The trachea transport air in and out of the lungs. The trachea commonly known as the windpipe is a tube about 4 inches long and less than an inch in diameter in most people.

The esophagus is about 8 inches long and is lined by moist pink tissue called mucosa.

Trachea Windpipe Definition Anatomy Function Diagram