Before endotracheal intubation some facts about trachea a nurse has to understand and all the following are true regarding trachea EXCEPT

Appeared in: JIPMER Nursing Officer-2017

Explanation

This statement is the correct answer because it is factually incorrect.
The trachea, or windpipe, begins in the neck as a continuation of the larynx.
Its starting point is at the lower border of the cricoid cartilage, which anatomically aligns with the 6th cervical vertebra (C6), not the 7th (C7).

Option A: This is a true statement. The average length of an adult trachea is between 10 and 13 cm.
Option B: This is a true statement. The trachea terminates by dividing, or bifurcating, into the right and left main (primary) bronchi, which lead to the lungs.
Option D: This is a true statement. The point of tracheal bifurcation, known as the carina, is located at the level of the sternal angle (also called the Angle of Louis).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Safe nursing care depends on performing Anatomy of the trachea and its clinical relevance in endotracheal intubation in the correct sequence, documenting the action clearly, and monitoring for the expected response.
Accurate knowledge of tracheal landmarks is essential for safe endotracheal tube placement and preventing life-threatening complications.
If a nurse notes absent breath sounds on the left side after intubation, they should immediately suspect a right mainstem intubation and notify the provider to reposition the tube.
What if? If a patient has a very short neck or cervical spine abnormalities, the external landmarks might be less reliable, necessitating confirmation of ET tube placement with a chest X-ray or capnography sooner.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is the anatomy of the trachea.
Recognize the keyword 'EXCEPT'. This means you are looking for the statement that is FALSE.
Evaluate each option against your knowledge of respiratory anatomy.
Option A: Recall the approximate length of the trachea. 13 cm is a reasonable length.
Option B: Recall the termination of the trachea. It does bifurcate into the bronchi.
Option C: Recall the starting point of the trachea. It begins below the larynx at the cricoid cartilage, which is at the C6 level.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Anatomy of the trachea and its clinical relevance in endotracheal intubation.
Stem keywords: trachea, endotracheal intubation, anatomy
Lead-in keywords: EXCEPT
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks for the exception among the given statements.

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E6 Anatomy Applied Ashalatha 4e p. 98-100

E6 Anatomy Grays 43e Vol 2 Part 1 p. 47-49

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