Figure 2. The level of the distal part of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA). The hatched area indicates the distal part of the LMA that occupies the hypopharynx. 1 = posterior view of the larynx; 2 = lateral view of the larynx; 3 = position of the tip of the LMA when cricoid pressure is applied (when cricoid pressure is applied before placement, the LMA, in theory, might be wedged in the hypopharynx, but it is more likely to occupy only the space behind the arytenoid cartilages. The LMA is positioned at least 2 cm more proximal than usual.); 4 = position of the tip of the LMA when no cricoid pressure is applied (When the LMA is placed correctly, the distal tip is at the distal end of C5, and the distal part of the LMA should occupy fully the hypopharynx, the pharyngeal space behind both the arytenoid and cricoid cartilages. A = arytenoid cartilages; C = cricoid cartilage; E = epiglottis. (Reproduced with permission. [59])