Structure
The annular ligaments of the trachea are circular horizontal fibroelastic ligaments that unite adjacent tracheal cartilages together.
Related parts of the anatomy
Key Features/Anatomical Relations
The trachea consists of 16–20 C-shaped rings of hyaline cartilage that occupy an anterolateral position in the tracheal wall. They are responsible for keeping the trachea patent for respiration to occur. Fibroelastic tissue, the tracheal annular ligaments, is interspersed between the cartilaginous rings. Posteriorly, the tracheal wall is flat and contains fibromuscular tissue, including the involuntary trachealis muscle (smooth muscle). The tracheal lumen is lined by a mucosa composed of pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells. The mucosa is thrown into folds along the posterior wall where hyaline cartilage is absent.
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Joint Ligament
Entheseal structures are widely located throughout the body and are represented by the interface between bone and several tissues including tendon, joint capsules and ligaments.
