Intubation
is typically performed under direct visualization. That is,
by looking through the mouth directly at the vocal cords (direct
laryngoscopy), and watching the endotracheal tube pass
through the cords and into the trachea. However, there is
no direct line-of-sight from the mouth to the vocal cords.
Check
in a mirror or examine a friend (preferably one who has not
eaten onions recently), even with the mouth maximally opened
and tongue extended you cannot see the vocal cords, in fact
only rarely can you see the epiglottis.
