Anaesthesia Fundamentals | Anatomy | Anatomical Basis of Airway Management

Anatomical Basis of Airway Management
Session Overview
Description
This session examines the anatomical basis of anaesthetic airway management. It includes a discussion on factors influencing mouth opening and the anatomy of the craniocervical junction.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Identify factors that affect mouth opening
• Describe the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
• Describe the craniocervical junction
• Draw a simple diagram of the craniocervical junction

A career in anaesthesia will inevitably include some testing experiences with patients’ airways. However, an understanding of the anatomical basis of airway management should make difficult circumstances easier to manage.

There are four methods of airway management:

• Face mask
• Supraglottic airway
• Tracheal tube
• Percutaneous tracheal tube or catheter

To varying extents, the same anatomical features are involved in all techniques of airway management. This session will address these features.