trachea

Definition

The main airway (windpipe) that carries air from the throat into the lungs, which can be physically compressed during an act of strangulation.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word 'tracheia' meaning 'rough artery,' as ancient anatomists observed its cartilaginous rings and mistook it for a vessel carrying blood rather than air.

In the news

The article mentions how the backs of a victim's hands pressed against her own trachea while a ligature was being tightened around her neck. This illustrates the physical vulnerability of this specific airway during violent physical assault.

The Psychology of Strangulation

The Mind Detective

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