A resident is reviewing a CT scan of the neck after blunt trauma to the anterior throat. Which cartilage of the larynx is the only one that forms a complete anatomical ring around the airway?

• A Thyroid cartilage
• B Epiglottic cartilage
• C Arytenoid cartilage
• D Cricoid cartilage ✓

Explanation

The cricoid cartilage is a signet-ring shaped hyaline cartilage that completely encircles the airway, being taller posteriorly than anteriorly. This makes it the keystone of the laryngeal skeleton and the reason cricoid fractures cause rapid airway compromise. All other laryngeal cartilages are open posteriorly: the thyroid has two laminae joined anteriorly, the paired arytenoids sit on the cricoid facet, and the elastic epiglottis is attached only anteriorly.

Reference: Dhingra's Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.