Anatomy and development of the cricoid: serial-section whole organ study of perinatal larynges.

Whole organ serial-section study contributes to our understanding of neonatal intubation injury by demonstrating the previously undescribed "V" configuration of the posterior cricoid lamina; this may be readily correlated with subarytenoid paramedian intubation injury. This technique also permits detailed study of an anomalous larynx and permits the precise identification of a "tracheal" anomaly as a cricoid malformation. The need for a fetal staging system is reemphasized.