The bronchi are two long tubes through which air travels to the lungs, and they are among the main organs of the respiratory system. In this article, we will learn about the most important details.

What are the airways?

Bronchi is the main airway to reach the lungs, as air passes through the nose or mouth, passing through the rest of the respiratory system, and reaching the bronchial tubes that distribute air inside the lungs.

The shape of the bronchi

The bronchi are the two branches that branch out from the trachea, then they branch into several smaller and smaller branches until they end in small air sacs called alveoli, which are very important in the process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide during the breathing process.

These branches appear anatomically in the form of an inverted tree, and it is called the tracheobronchial tree, as it starts from the trachea in the neck to the alveoli.

parts of the airways

The people are divided into smaller and smaller branches, The following are the main parts of the bronchi:

1. Primary bronchi: It is the largest and widest part, and is located at the top of the lungs. The right bronchus is shorter than the left, and the left is less wide than the right.
2. Secondary bronchi: It is located in the middle of the lungs.
3. Tertiary people: They are smaller branches, located at the bottom of the reef.
4. Bronchioles: These are the smaller airways, at the end of which are the alveoli, where gas exchange takes place.

bronchial function

The bronchi transport the air after it flows from the nose or mouth through the trachea to the lungs and alveoli, which number up to 480 million alveoli, for gas exchange to occur, as oxygen moves into the bloodstream, and carbon dioxide comes out to be expelled out of the body with exhalation.

In addition to the above, it helps moisturize the air and purify it from foreign bodies and microbes by means of cilia and mucus lining its inner wall to prevent infection.

The most common diseases of the airways

Bronchial diseases are very common respiratory diseases, and the following are the most prominent of these diseases:

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchi that causes narrowing of the air passages, which causes breathing difficulties, and it may be mild or severe, and it has many types, and different treatments such as asthma sprays.

acute bronchitis

It is a viral infection that usually starts in the nose or throat and then affects the bronchial cells, causing them to swell, and the most prominent symptoms are coughing up sputum, and wheezing when breathing.

chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchi that causes mucus to build up in the lungs. Symptoms include a chronic cough and difficulty breathing.

Bronchiectasis

It occurs with the expansion of the bronchi causing mucus accumulation, and coughing.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

It is one of the congenital problems that result from the failure of the fetus’s lung to develop properly.

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a group of inflammatory lung diseases that result in airway obstruction.

Cystic fibrosis

It is a hereditary condition, usually affecting the lungs, and produces very thick mucus that the cilia cannot expel, and causes difficulty breathing.

Lung cancer

that spreads to neighboring tissues.

Bronchial stenosis

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: some people suffer from asthma symptoms with excessive exercise.

How to keep the airways healthy

In order to maintain the health of the respiratory system and the people in general, the following most important tips should be followed:

• Avoid smoking and passive smoking.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Regular house cleaning.
• Avoid polluted atmospheres.
• Maintaining clean hands and mouth and avoiding crowds during epidemic seasons such as the flu season.