Cricoid cartilage

Cricoid cartilage
Anterolateral view of head and neck (cricoid cartilage labeled at center left)
Antero-lateral view of the ligaments of the larynx (cricoid cartilage visible near bottom center)
Details
Precursor	4th and 6th branchial arch
Identifiers
Latin	cartilago cricoidea
MeSH	D003413
TA98	A06.2.03.001
TA2	978
FMA	9615
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The cricoid cartilage /ˌkraɪkɔɪd ˈkɑːrtɪlɪdʒ/, or simply cricoid (from the Greek krikoeides meaning "ring-shaped") or cricoid ring, is the only complete ring of cartilage around the trachea. It forms the back part of the voice box and functions as an attachment site for muscles, cartilages, and ligaments involved in opening and closing the airway and in producing speech.