Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
The bronchioles (/ ˈ b r ɑː ŋ k i oʊ l s / BRONG-kee-ohls) are the smaller branches of the bronchial airways in the lower respiratory tract.They include the terminal bronchioles, and finally the respiratory bronchioles that mark the start of the respiratory zone delivering air to the gas exchanging units of the alveoli.
A bronchus (/ ˈ b r ɒ ŋ k ə s / BRONG-kəs; pl.: bronchi, / ˈ b r ɒ ŋ k aɪ / BRONG-ky) is a passage or airway in the lower respiratory tract that conducts air into the lungs.The first or primary bronchi to branch from the trachea at the carina are the right main bronchus and the left main bronchus.
The respiratory system (also respiratory apparatus, ventilatory system) is a biological system consisting of specific organs and structures used for gas exchange in animals and plants. The anatomy and physiology that make this happen varies greatly, depending on the size of the organism, the environment in which it lives and its evolutionary ...
The lower airways or lower respiratory tract includes the portion of the larynx below the vocal folds, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. The lungs can be included in the lower respiratory tract or as separate entity and include the respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli. [3] Adult and pediatric airway anatomy
Bronchoconstriction is defined as the narrowing of the airways in the lungs (bronchi and bronchioles). Air flow in air passages can get restricted in three ways: [3] a spasmodic state of the smooth muscles in bronchi and bronchioles; an inflammation in the middle layers of the bronchi and bronchioles; excessive production of mucus.
The conducting zone of the respiratory tract ends at the terminal bronchioles when they branch into the respiratory bronchioles. This marks the beginning of the terminal respiratory unit called the acinus which includes the respiratory bronchioles, the alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli. [27] An acinus measures up to 10 mm in diameter. [28]
Bronchial anatomy showing terminal bronchioles (BT) leading to respiratory bronchioles (BR) and alveolar ducts (DA) that open into alveolar sacs containing out pockets of alveoli (A) separated by alveolar septa (AS) The alveoli are first located in the respiratory bronchioles as scattered outpockets, extending from their lumens.
The respiratory bronchioles represent the transition from the conducting portion to the respiratory portion of the respiratory system. The narrow channels are usually less than 2 mm in diameter and they are lined by a simple cuboidal epithelium, consisting of ciliated cells and non-ciliated club cells, which are unique to bronchioles.