Larynx
The infant larynx is higher, the epiglottis is longer and floppier; the larynx is not so well developed (Fig 1).
The narrowest part of the larynx is at the cricoid (Fig 2).
As the child grows, all these anatomical structures change in:
- Size
- How they inter-relate
The next page makes further comparisons.
Fig 1 Adult and infant larynx; side view. Note the change in angle of the epiglottis
Fig 2 Adult and infant larynx; anterior view. Note the cricothyroid membrane is smaller in the infant, making puncture more difficult