Which characteristic of an infant’s airway makes it more prone to obstruction?

The characteristic that makes an infant’s airway more prone to obstruction is the weak cartilage rings. In infants, the tracheal and bronchial structures are not fully developed, and the cartilage that maintains the airway is more pliable compared to that of older children and adults. This weakness in the cartilage can lead to compression or collapse of the airway, especially during episodes of respiratory distress, secretions, or inflammation, making it easier for obstruction to occur. Additionally, any additional factors such as swelling from infections (like croup) can exacerbate this vulnerability.

For context, while infants have a larger tongue proportionately to their oral cavity, it does not play a significant role in obstruction when compared to the weakness of the cartilage structures. Flexible trachea and larger nasal passages also do not contribute significantly to airway obstruction in infants, as the flexibility allows for some adaptability without resulting necessarily in obstruction, and larger nasal passages facilitate nasal breathing rather than obstruct it.