Which statement about the cricoid ring is true?

• A. Extends 360 degrees around the trachea.
• B. Is the top ring of the trachea.
• C. Extends around the esophagus.
• D. Is located inside the larynx and supports the vocal cords.

Answer: (B)

The cricoid cartilage is the ring-shaped piece that marks the lower boundary of the larynx and the superior boundary of the trachea. It forms a complete circle around the airway and sits just below the thyroid cartilage, directly atop the first ring of the trachea. That placement makes it the top ring of the trachea. It does not encircle the esophagus, which lies behind the trachea, and it is not located inside the larynx as a structure that supports the vocal cords—the vocal cords are higher in the larynx attached to other cartilages. So the statement that it is the top ring of the trachea accurately describes its location and role.