Table 1 Diagrams and brief descriptions of the shapes identified for tracheal ring classification
From: Morphometric characterisation of human tracheas: focus on cartilaginous ring variation
Assigned code | Tracheal ring shape | Description of ring |
|---|---|---|
A |
| A singular band of tracheal cartilage resembling a ring throughout with parallel borders |
B |
| A straight band of tracheal cartilage on the left half of the ring, and a split into two distinct bands at the right end |
C |
| A straight band of tracheal cartilage on the right half of the ring, and a split into two distinct bands at the left end |
D |
| Two singular rings of tracheal cartilage connected by a band of cartilage directed infero-medially from the right end of the proximal ring |
E |
| Two singular rings of tracheal cartilage connected by a band of cartilage directed infero-medially from the left end of the proximal ring |
F |
| A thick ring of tracheal cartilage with two distinct bands on both right and left ends |
G |
| A thick ring of tracheal cartilage with a slit in the centre |
H |
| A band of tracheal cartilage that resembles an upright pentagon in shape with an apex in the centre of the superior border |
I |
| A band of tracheal cartilage that resembles an inverted pentagon in shape with an apex in the centre of the inferior border |
J |
| A triangular piece of cartilage on the left side that did not extend beyond the tracheal midline. Connective tissue occupied the rest of the layer |
K |
| A triangular piece of tracheal cartilage on the right side that did not extend beyond the tracheal midline. Connective tissue occupied the rest of the layer |
L | Other | A ring shape which does not conform to the aforementioned descriptions or is a combination of one or more of the ring types |
