Child versus adult airway

The anatomical differences particular to children are (a) higher, more anterior position of the glottic opening (note the relationship of the vocal cords to the chin/neck junction); (b) relatively larger tongue in the infant, which lies between the mouth and glottic opening; (c) relatively larger and more floppy epiglottis in the child; (d) the subglottic region as the functionally narrowest portion of the pediatric airway versus the vocal cords in the adult; (e) position and size of the cricothyroid membrane in the infant; (f) sharper, more difficult angle for blind nasotracheal intubation; and (g) larger relative size of the occiput in the infant.