Bronchial concept - Definition

Etymologically the word bronchus derives from the Latin "bronchia" which in turn comes from the Greek "bronkhion", being known under that name each of both tubular and fibrocartilaginous ducts in which the trachea bifurcates, which extends from the larynx , when entering the lungs, and that retains its annular morphology.Through the bronchi the air enters the lungs, being a fundamental organ of the respiratory system.

Each bronchus travels through most of the lung, in a company of nerves and blood vessels, obliquely, from top to bottom, from front to back and from inside to outside.

bronchial walls integrate with muscular and cartilaginous layers that progressively decrease.

These “trunk bronchi” are two: the right one, which measures between 2 and 3 centimeters, and the left one, which measures between 3 and 5 centimeters, are extrapulmonary, and originate the intrapulmonary collateral, primary, secondary and tertiary bronchi, where its annular shape already changes, and its cartilages have an irregular shape.At the same time they are branching twenty-five times, until they form lobules of pyramidal shape, which enter the pulmonary parenchyma, and acini, which form acinar bronchial tubes being their smaller and smaller caliber , always in the company of some branch of pulmonary artery.

The inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes is called bronchitis, which can be viral or bacterial, which manifests with dyspnea (shortness of breath) and cough.Other diseases that affect the bronchial tubes are asthma; with respiratory obstruction, bronchial fistula and cancer.