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Airway resistance can also change over time. During an asthma attack the airways constrict causing an increase in airway resistance. Airway resistance can also vary between inspiration and expiration: In emphysema there is destruction of the elastic tissue of the lungs which help hold the small airways open. Therefore, during expiration ...
Adult and pediatric airway anatomy The respiratory tract can also be divided into a conducting zone and a respiratory zone , based on the distinction of transporting gases or exchanging them. The conducting zone includes structures outside of the lungs – the nose , pharynx , larynx , and trachea , and structures inside the lungs – the ...
Obstructive conditions of the lower airway, including severe asthma or COPD episodes, can also lead to respiratory arrest. During these episodes, known as exacerbations, airway resistance is increased due to inflammatory changes in the lungs. This leads to increased work of breathing and decreased oxygen delivery to tissue.
Illustration depicting bronchoconstriction (Asthma) Bronchoconstriction is the constriction of the airways in the lungs due to the tightening of surrounding smooth muscle , with consequent coughing , wheezing , and shortness of breath .
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.
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.
During an asthma episode, inflamed airways react to environmental triggers such as smoke, dust, or pollen. 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]
Dynamic compression of the airways results when intrapleural pressure equals or exceeds alveolar pressure, which causes dynamic collapsing of the lung airways. It is termed dynamic given the transpulmonary pressure (alveolar pressure − intrapleural pressure) varies based on factors including lung volume, compliance, resistance, existing pathologies, etc. [1]