In pediatric airway anatomy, which statement is true?

• A. The tongue is smaller in proportion to the airway.
• B. The airway is less prone to obstruction.
• C. The head is smaller in proportion to the body.
• D. The tongue is larger in proportion to the airway.

Answer: (D)

In pediatric airways, the tongue occupies a larger portion of the oral cavity relative to the size of the airway itself. That means when a child’s muscles relax, the tongue can more easily fall back and partly block the airway, making obstruction more likely. The airway itself is smaller in diameter, and the larynx sits higher and more anteriorly, which compounds the risk of obstruction and makes airway management more delicate. This combination explains why the statement about the tongue being larger in proportion to the airway is true.

The other ideas don’t fit pediatric anatomy: a smaller tongue would reduce the chance of obstruction, which isn’t the case; the airway is actually more prone to obstruction rather than less; and the head is proportionally larger in infants, not smaller, which affects positioning and airway alignment.