A 24-year-old man is brought to the emergency department with angioedema and progressive stridor. Bag-mask ventilation fails and orotracheal intubation is impossible. An emergency surgical airway is planned through the easiest palpable membrane in the neck. Which structure is opened?
- A Cricotracheal ligament
- B Cricothyroid membrane ✓
- C Thyrohyoid membrane
- D Membranous part of the trachea
Correct answer: B. Cricothyroid membrane
Explanation
The cricothyroid membrane lies superficially in the midline between the thyroid cartilage above and the cricoid cartilage below, with no overlying muscle, gland or pleura, so it is the standard site for emergency front-of-neck access. The thyrohyoid membrane lies higher and carries the internal laryngeal nerve, while the cricotracheal ligament is lower where the isthmus of the thyroid gland overlies the trachea.
Reference: Gray's Anatomy for Students, 4th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.