Sellick maneuver involves applying pressure to which structure?

• A. Epiglottis
• B. Cricoid Cartilage
• C. Hyoid Bone
• D. Thyroid Cartilage

Answer: (B)

The Sellick maneuver involves applying pressure to the cricoid cartilage, a ring-shaped structure just below the thyroid cartilage. By pressing the cricoid cartilage backward (toward the spine), you compress the esophagus against the vertebral bodies, occluding it to help prevent gastric contents from regurgitating during airway management situations like induction of anesthesia or rapid-sequence intubation when the airway isn’t yet secured. The other structures don’t serve this purpose: the epiglottis moves to cover the trachea during swallowing, the hyoid bone is higher up and not encircling the esophagus, and the thyroid cartilage forms part of the laryngeal framework but isn’t the site used to occlude the esophagus.