The trachea is a cylindrical tube composed of cartilage, muscle, and a fibrous membrane. It measures 13 to 15 cm in length and its antero-posterior diameter is 16 mm from front to back. Its transverse diameter is 14 mm.

The trachea is oriented obliquely backward and leans slightly to the right. It is customarily divided into two parts ; namely, the cervical trachea which extends down to the manubrium, and the thoracic trachea which continues down to the carina.