Saturday

Bronchi

Do you have any brief idea about “What is bronchi?”. Well, it is a plural form of bronchus. Here it becomes pertinent to define bronchus. A bronchus, on the other hand, can be defined as either of the two branches of trachea which lead directly to the lungs. So, the appendix definition makes it clear that a bronchus is actually a sub-division of the windpipe. The trachea or windpipe serves as a passage for airflow between mouth or larynx and the lungs.

Structurally composed of cartilaginous material, the air passages show a significant amount of flexibility. This flexibility, in turn, substantially contributes to their functioning efficiency. Any abnormal condition in the structure gives rise to great disturbance and severe symptoms of the respiratory system. But a number of remedial strategies are available for almost all of such disorders.
                          
Though their walls do not let the respiratory gases pass across them, the bronchial canals are the main channels for the passage of airstream towards the major respiratory organs. They also make significant contribution to the protection of lungs against germs and dirt particles. The germs and dirt particles are trapped in the mucous lining of the lumen.

Afterwards, there is upward expelling and removal of such unwanted things out of the windpipe with the help of ciliated cells. The hyaline cartilaginous material that forms the D-shaped incomplete rings of the bronchial walls prevents the tubes from collapsing and obstructing the flow of air.

However, with the passage of time as you grow older, this soft flexible material becomes a hard and rigid bony substance. Consequently, it reduces the overall efficiency of the structure. The alveolar sacs (or alveoli) form as a result of many subdivisions of the mainstem bronchi. And these are the places where the exchange of respiratory gases takes place.

There are a number of respiratory disorders that affect the subdivisions of windpipe at different levels, i.e. bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli or respiratory sacs. For example, bronchitis – as the very name suggests – is the inflammatory disorder of bronchi. It may occur in either of the two major forms, viz. chronic and acute one.

Chronic bronchitis results from the prolonged exposure to the irritants and smoking habits. While acute form is the result of the bacterial and viral infections. As a response to the allergens (antigens producing abnormally vigorous immune response), hyperactivity occurs in the bronchial canals. People call this condition as asthma.

Because of its vertical position, the right main bronchus is more vulnerable to the disorders. It is because the germs and dust particles present in the atmospheric air get entry into the right lung quite easily. Over there, they cause mild or severe medical conditions.

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