A laryngeal mask assembly has an elliptical mask portion 13 at the patient end 14 of a tube 1. The mask portion 13 has a mount 15 attached to the tube 1 and a cuff 16 extending around the periphery of the mount. The patient end 14 of the tube 1 opens into the centre of the mount 15, which has three lateral ribs 31, 32 and 33 projecting forwardly and extending parallel and spaced from one another. The forward end of the ribs have a concave profile 36 with rounded projections 37 at each end. The ribs 31 to 33 act to hold the epiglottis away from the tube opening during insertion of the assembly and to provide an air passage into the tube.