Editing Trachea (section)

===Blood and lymphatic supply===
[[File:Gray622.png|thumb|[[Lymph node]]s of the trachea]]

The upper part of trachea receives and drains [[blood]] through the [[inferior thyroid arteries]] and veins;<ref name=GA2016 /> the lower trachea receives blood from bronchial arteries.<ref name="Furlow2018" /> Arteries that supply the trachea do so via small branches that supply the trachea from the sides. As the branches approach the wall of the trachea, they split into [[Anatomical terms of location#Superior and inferior|inferior and superior]] branches, which join with the branches of the arteries above and below; these then split into branches that supply the anterior and posterior parts of the trachea.<ref name="Furlow2018" /> The inferior thyroid arteries arise just below the isthmus of the thyroid, which sits atop the trachea. These arteries join ({{wt|en|anastamoses}}) with ascending branches of the [[bronchial artery|bronchial arteries]], which are direct branches from the [[aorta]], to supply blood to the trachea.<ref name=GA2016 /> The [[lymphatic vessel]]s of the trachea drain into the [[pretracheal lymph nodes|pretracheal nodes]] that lie in front of the trachea, and [[paratracheal lymph nodes]] that lie beside it.<ref name=GA2016 />