Bronchioles are small airways in the lungs that control the distribution of air and resistance to airflow. They end in alveoli, where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide. Bronchial dysfunction can cause life-threatening ailments, including bronchospasm and bronchiolitis. Treatment options include oxygen therapy and bronchodilation.
Bronchioles are part of the airways of the lungs. They are found at the ends of the bronchi, the largest, branching airway passages in the lungs, and end in the alveoli, tiny circular sacs where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in the blood. These passages are distinguished from the bronchi in that they contain no cartilage or glands. They are responsible for controlling the distribution of air and resistance to airflow in the lungs.
The lungs and their structures are part of the respiratory system, which controls breathing and also includes the upper airways, nose, throat, sinuses, pharynx, and trachea. Air is drawn into the lungs through the upper respiratory tract until it reaches the alveoli, where the blood is oxygenated. The deoxygenated blood transfers its carbon dioxide into the alveoli and the carbon dioxide is exhaled through the respiratory tract. This process helps blood carry oxygen throughout the body, fueling the body’s metabolism.
The bronchial network, like most airways, contains cilia, small finger-like cellular projections, on their inner surface to help move air through the system. The bronchioles are branched, beginning with the primary bronchioles, which branch into smaller and more numerous terminal bronchioles, which in turn divide into the respiratory bronchioles. Each terminal contains Clara cells, which secrete a protein compound called a surfactant that serves to lubricate passageways, maintain airflow, and detoxify harmful substances inhaled into the lungs.
Bronchial dysfunction can be the cause of life-threatening ailments. In bronchospasm, the bronchial passages narrow and narrow, preventing the absorption of oxygen into the blood. It is a symptom of asthma, bronchitis, flu and respiratory tract infections, as well as anaphylactic shock caused by allergens. Bronchospasms can also result as a side effect of some medications, including beta-blockers and pilocarpine. They can cause coughing, shortness of breath, and hypoxia or lack of oxygen in the body.
An inflammation of the bronchioles is called bronchiolitis. It is typically a symptom of a viral infection, but in a rare and severe form, bronchiolitis obliterans, the passageways become blocked by fibrous connective tissue. Most bronchial disorders can be treated with oxygen therapy or bronchodilation or by treating the underlying cause of the disease. Bronchodilation uses drugs or mechanical manipulations to widen the airways in the lungs. Bronchiolitis obliterans, however, is irreversible and may require lung transplantation in severe cases.
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