Trachea emergency situation, and this is a cricothyrotomy. Tracheal agenesis, is a rare birth defect in which the trachea fails to develop. The defect is usually fatal though sometimes surgical intervention has been successful. A tracheoesophageal fistula is a congenital defect in which the trachea and esophagus are abnormally connected. Sometimes as an anatomical variation one or more of the tracheal rings are completely formed. These "O" rings are smaller than the normal C-shaped and can cause narrowing of the trachea resulting in breathing difficulties. An operation called a "slide tracheoplasty" can be performed which opens up the rings and rejoins
The Human Body (TV series) programmes on the human body. The series was produced by Richard Dale and presented by Professor Robert Winston, a fertility expert. The series used a variety of different techniques to present the topics being discussed, including endoscopes and computer graphics for internal shots, time-lapse photography to show the growth of hair and nails, magnetic resonance imaging and scanning electron microscopy. The series gained 6.3 million viewers and an audience share of 38%. The series was nominated for numerous awards, winning several, including three BAFTA awards, four RTS awards and a Peabody Award. A DVD of the series was released in