Practical Anatomy for Emergency Airway Access

Dr. Richard Lewis MBBS FRACS

Dept. Of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery,Royal Perth Hospital

The centre of the neck is a safe place

The thyroid notch is the easiest bit of anatomy to feel.

It’s better to survive with a scar, than die from asphyxia

This is all safe to cut

Anterior view Sagittal SectionPosterior view

Thyroid cart.

Cricoid cart.

Arytenoid cart.

Cricoid cart.

Vocal Cord

Don’t even think about nerves

And finally, the carotid sheath!

Carotid / IJVCarotid / IJV