Trachea (windpipe) (20X)

Here we have a lovely overview image of the trachea (windpipe) in cross-section. It’s not easy to distinguish all the structures at such low magnification, but some features are visible.

Toward the lumen, there is a thin, folded band with a deep pink color. What could this be?

Notice the thick, blue horseshoe-shaped structure that stretches around almost the entire trachea, except for a small area at the bottom and top right.

Like all other tubular structures in the body, the inside of the trachea is lined with epithelium. At this magnification, it’s not possible to identify the specific type of epithelium.

The horseshoe-shaped structure consists of cartilage, which acts as a shield around the inner part of the trachea. This cartilage ensures that the windpipe remains open throughout the respiratory cycle, even when the pressure in the trachea drops below atmospheric pressure.