Bronchiole

[edit] Americola's celebrity biographies are provided by AmericolaWiki, a celebrity wiki. You can help contribute to Americola and edit this article.

Bronchiole
Image:Alveoli diagram.png
Diagram of the alveoli with both cross-section and external view.
Gray's	subject #240 1098
Dorlands/Elsevier	Bronchioles/A04.411.125

The bronchioles are the first airway branches that no longer contain cartilage. They are branches of the bronchi, and are smaller than one millimeter in diameter.

There are no glands or cartilage in any of the bronchioles, and the epithelial cells become more cuboidal in shape.

They are circular bubbles at the end of the bronci.

Pathology

Bronchospasm, a life-threatening situation, occurs when the smooth muscular tissue of the bronchioles constricts, severely narrowing their diameter. Bronchospasm is commonly treated by oxygen therapy and bronchodilators.

The medical condition of inflammation of the bronchioles is termed bronchiolitis. Diseases of the bronchioles include asthma, bronchiolitis obliterans, respiratory syncytial virus infection, and influenza.

Additional images

Cross sectional cut of primary bronchiole

Bronchi, bronchial tree, and lungs

1. Trachea 2. Mainstem bronchus 3. Lobar bronchus 4. Segmental bronchus 5. Bronchiole 6. Alveolar duct 7. Alveolus

Wikipedia information about Bronchiole This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bronchiole". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.