tracheal

American  

[trey-kee-uhl, truh-kee-uhl] / ˈtreɪ ki əl, trəˈki əl /

adjective

1. Anatomy, Zoology. pertaining to or connected with the trachea or tracheae.

2. Botany. of the nature of or composed of tracheae or vessels.

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Other Word Forms

• posttracheal adjective
• pretracheal adjective
• transtracheal adjective

Etymology

Origin of tracheal

First recorded in 1700–10; trache(a) + -al ¹

Explanation

Anything tracheal has something to do with the trachea, or windpipe. A tracheal obstruction makes it hard to breathe. All tracheal things relate to the tube that connects your larynx to your two primary bronchi, just before your lungs. When doctors need to intervene to help a patient breathe, they'll frequently do a tracheal intubation, inserting a tube into the trachea to keep the airway open. The Greek root of tracheal is trakheia, "rough," which describes the cartilage rings that form the trachea.

Example Sentences

His family alleged in a 2018 lawsuit that the 67-year-old grandfather had died a year earlier as the result of neglect after his tracheal tube became disconnected.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2025

A sudden throat tear, known medically as a "spontaneous tracheal perforation" is rare and can be potentially life-threatening.

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2023

"It is fascinating and completely unexpected that normal patient tracheal cells, without modifying their DNA, can move on their own and encourage neuron growth across a region of damage," said Levin.

From Science Daily • Nov. 30, 2023

Researchers have now taken a step toward that vision: They’ve coaxed tracheal cells to form coordinated groups called organoids that can propel themselves with tiny appendages.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 29, 2023

We are compelled to take a similar view of the agreement between the tracheal air-tubes of Arachnida and other tracheate Arthropods.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various