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AnatomyThoraxLungsCarina of trachea
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AnatomyThoraxLungsCarina of trachea

Carina of trachea

Author: Danijel Tosovic, PhD • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios, MD, PhD
Last reviewed: April 17, 2024
Reading time: 1 minute

Recommended video: Trachea [12:44]
Structures of the larynx, trachea and bronchi seen from an anterior and posterior views.
Carina of trachea
Carina tracheae
1/3
Synonyms: none

The carina of the trachea is a cartilaginous projection of the last tracheal ring, found at the bifurcation of the trachea into the left and right main (primary/principal) bronchi. It lies in the sagittal plane and is located in line with the sternal angle, at the level of the fourth thoracic vertebra (T4).

The mucous membrane of the carina contains specialized nervous tissue making it one of the most sensitive areas of the tracheobronchial tree for detecting the presence of foreign bodies and triggering a cough reflex. 

Terminology English: Carina of trachea
Latin: Carina tracheae
Definition Cartilaginous ridge located at the bifurcation of the trachea into the left and right main bronchi
Function Mucous membrane is sensitive to foreign objects and triggering a couch reflex. 

Learn more about the trachea with this study unit (and article):

Trachea Explore study unit
Trachea Read article

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.
  • Amerman, E. (2015). Human Anatomy and Physiology (global ed.). England: Pearson Education Limited.
  • Standring, S. (2016). Gray's Anatomy (41st ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

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