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Airway remodelling is a multifaceted process involving multiple airway tissues. These include goblet cell hyperplasia, leading to increased mucus production, and airway smooth muscle hypertrophy (or smooth muscle cell hyperplasia), leading to the release of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic messengers contributing to subepithelial fibrosis.
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.
Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. [4] Asthma occurs when allergens , pollen , dust, or other particles, are inhaled into the lungs, causing the bronchioles to constrict and produce mucus, which then restricts oxygen flow to the alveoli .
The airways narrow and produce excess mucus, making it difficult to breathe. In essence, asthma is the result of an immune response in the bronchial airways. [3] The airways of asthma patients are "hypersensitive" to certain triggers, also known as stimuli (see below).
A wheeze is a clinical symptom of a continuous, coarse, whistling sound produced in the respiratory airways during breathing. [1] For wheezes to occur, part of the respiratory tree must be narrowed or obstructed (for example narrowing of the lower respiratory tract in an asthmatic attack), or airflow velocity within the respiratory tree must be heightened.
Airway muscular vasculature controls the flow of nutrients to the airways, the temperature of the airways, as well as the clearance of insoluble particles in the airways, which may play an important role in the activity of inhaled bronchodilators, thus affecting airway reactivity and airway tone changes in obstructive lung diseases. [9]
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
The most common cause of emphysema is smoking and smoking cessation is mandatory if this incurable disease is to be treated. Prevention of bronchoconstriction by this pathway is vital for people with emphysema and there are several anticholinergic medications that in combination with mucous thinning agents such as Guaifenesin cause significant ...