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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The trachealis muscle is a sheet of smooth muscle in the trachea.
Trachealis muscle | |
---|---|
Details | |
Nerve | Vagus nerve and upper thoracic spinal nerves |
Actions | Constricts trachea |
Identifiers | |
Latin | musculus trachealis |
TA98 | A06.3.01.005 |
TA2 | 3219 |
FMA | 7466 |
Anatomical terms of muscle |
The trachealis muscle lies posterior to the trachea and anterior to the oesophagus.[1] 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.[1][2][3] This completes the ring of cartilages of the trachea.[3] The trachealis muscle also supports a thin cartilage on the inside of the trachea.[4] It is the only smooth muscle present in the trachea.[5]
The primary function of the trachealis muscle is to constrict the trachea, allowing air to be expelled with more force, such as during coughing.[2]
Tracheomalacia may involve hypotonia of the trachealis muscle.[6]
The trachealis muscle may become stiffer during ageing, which makes the whole trachea less elastic.[7]
In infants, the insertion of an oesophagogastroduodenoscope into the oesophagus may compress the trachealis muscle, and narrow the trachea.[8] This can result in reduced airflow to the lungs.[8] Infants may be intubated to make sure that the trachea is fixed open.[8]
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