cricoid cartilage
anatomy
Quick Summary
Diagram of trachea.
The trachea and major bronchi of the human lungs.
The cricoid cartilage is a single, shield-shaped cartilage located below the thyroid cartilage and connects it to the trachea (windpipe). It resembles a signet ring and is a key component of the laryngeal skeleton, which provides a framework for the larynx. The cricoid cartilage plays a role in speech by anchoring muscles that move the vocal cords and influence vocal pitch. It is one of the three single cartilages of the larynx, alongside the thyroid cartilage and the epiglottis.123
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