trachealis muscle
{{Short description|Smooth muscle of the trachea}}
{{Infobox muscle
| Name = Trachealis muscle
| Latin = musculus trachealis
| Image =
| Caption =
| Image2 =
| Caption2 =
| Width =
| Origin =
| Insertion =
| Blood =
| Nerve = Vagus nerve and upper thoracic spinal nerves
| Action = Constricts trachea
| Antagonist =
}}
The trachealis muscle is a sheet of smooth muscle in the trachea.
Structure
The trachealis muscle lies posterior to the trachea and anterior to the oesophagus.{{Citation|last=Lumb|first=Andrew B|title=Chapter 1 - Functional Anatomy of the Respiratory Tract|date=2017-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702062940000010|work=Nunn's Applied Respiratory Physiology (Eighth Edition)|pages=3–16.e1|editor-last=Lumb|editor-first=Andrew B|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|isbn=978-0-7020-6294-0|access-date=2021-01-21}} It bridges the gap between the free ends of C-shaped rings of cartilage at the posterior border of the trachea, adjacent to the oesophagus.{{Citation|last1=Leslie|first1=Kevin O.|title=1 - Lung Anatomy|date=2018-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323442848000016|work=Practical Pulmonary Pathology: A Diagnostic Approach (Third Edition)|pages=1–14.e2|editor-last=Leslie|editor-first=Kevin O.|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|isbn=978-0-323-44284-8|access-date=2021-01-23|last2=Wick|first2=Mark R.|editor2-last=Wick|editor2-first=Mark R.}} This completes the ring of cartilages of the trachea. The trachealis muscle also supports a thin cartilage on the inside of the trachea.{{Citation|title=Approach to Tracheobronchial Neoplasms|date=2016-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978032337706550069X|work=Specialty Imaging: Thoracic Neoplasms|pages=230–235|editor-last=Rosado-de-Christenson|editor-first=Melissa L.|series=Specialty Imaging|place=Philadelphia|publisher=Elsevier|doi=10.1016/B978-0-323-37706-5.50069-X |language=en|isbn=978-0-323-37706-5|access-date=2021-01-23|editor2-last=Carter|editor2-first=Brett W.|url-access=subscription}} It is the only smooth muscle present in the trachea.{{Citation|last1=Shaffer|first1=Thomas H.|title=66 - Upper Airway Structure: Function, Regulation, and Development|date=2017-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323352147000664|work=Fetal and Neonatal Physiology (Fifth Edition)|pages=676–685.e2|editor-last=Polin|editor-first=Richard A.|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|isbn=978-0-323-35214-7|access-date=2021-01-23|last2=Penn|first2=Raymond B.|last3=Wolfson|first3=Marla R.|editor2-last=Abman|editor2-first=Steven H.|editor3-last=Rowitch|editor3-first=David H.|editor4-last=Benitz|editor4-first=William E.}}
Function
The primary function of the trachealis muscle is to constrict the trachea, allowing air to be expelled with more force, such as during coughing.{{citation|title=Histology a Text and Atlas (5th edition)|first1=Michael H.|last1=Ross|first2=Wojciech|last2=Pawlina|year=2005|page=[https://archive.org/details/histologytextatl0000ross_i4i2/page/617 617]|publisher=LWW|isbn=0781750563|url=https://archive.org/details/histologytextatl0000ross_i4i2/page/617}}
Clinical significance
Tracheomalacia may involve hypotonia of the trachealis muscle.{{Citation|last=Wert|first=Susan E.|title=61 - Normal and Abnormal Structural Development of the Lung|date=2017-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323352147000615|work=Fetal and Neonatal Physiology (Fifth Edition)|pages=627–641.e3|editor-last=Polin|editor-first=Richard A.|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|isbn=978-0-323-35214-7|access-date=2021-01-23|editor2-last=Abman|editor2-first=Steven H.|editor3-last=Rowitch|editor3-first=David H.|editor4-last=Benitz|editor4-first=William E.}}
The trachealis muscle may become stiffer during ageing, which makes the whole trachea less elastic.{{Citation|last1=Morgenroth|first1=Konrad|title=CHAPTER 8 - Anatomy|date=2008-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780721601861500120|work=Mechanical Ventilation|pages=69–85|editor-last=Papadakos|editor-first=PETER J.|place=Philadelphia|publisher=W.B. Saunders|language=en|isbn=978-0-7216-0186-1|access-date=2021-01-23|last2=Ebsen|first2=Michael|editor2-last=Lachmann|editor2-first=BURKHARD|editor3-last=Visser-Isles|editor3-first=Laraine}}
In infants, the insertion of an oesophagogastroduodenoscope into the oesophagus may compress the trachealis muscle, and narrow the trachea.{{Citation|last1=Cravero|first1=Joseph P.|title=46 - Anesthesia Outside the Operating Room|date=2019-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978032342974000046X|work=A Practice of Anesthesia for Infants and Children (Sixth Edition)|pages=1077–1094.e4|editor-last=Coté|editor-first=Charles J.|place=Philadelphia|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|isbn=978-0-323-42974-0|access-date=2021-01-23|last2=Landrigan-Ossar|first2=Mary|editor2-last=Lerman|editor2-first=Jerrold|editor3-last=Anderson|editor3-first=Brian J.}} This can result in reduced airflow to the lungs. Infants may be intubated to make sure that the trachea is fixed open.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Muscles of neck}}
{{Respiratory_system}}
{{Authority control}}