Developmental anatomy of the airway

Abstract The airway develops from the primitive foregut at four weeks’ gestation. Congenital anomalies may result when this process is abnormal. The anatomy of the airway at birth is uniquely different from older children and adults with a large tongue, long floppy epiglottis, large occiput and cephalad larynx. These features affect the technique required for facemask ventilation, supraglott…