Bronchi are defined as the series of tubes that are part of the structure of the respiratory system. There are two main bronchi, which arise in the final portion of the trachea and each one goes to a lung. On the other hand, the lobar bronchi and bronchioles, the latter of a smaller size, take over inside the lungs.
When the air enters the body it follows the path of the trachea and the bronchi so that in this way the gaseous exchange is guaranteed at the blood level and thus allows the oxygenation of the tissues of the whole body. The wall of these structures is made up of cartilage and muscular, elastic and mucosal layers.
The main bronchi have their origin in the bifurcation that the trachea presents at its lower end, one right and the other left, from that point these structures go to the corresponding lung through a series of divisions in the shape of branches until finally they reach tubular structures of very small diameter which are known as bronchioles, which finally give way to the functional unit of the lung which is called the alveolus.
These structures are formed by an internal or mucosal layer that in turn consists of structures that have the shape of hairs which are known as cilia, said beautiful ones have the function of carrying out a sweeping movement that is directed towards the exterior in order to keep the airway clean and free of secretions, foreign objects such as dust and microorganisms that can be introduced into it.
En la periferia los bronquios están conformados por músculo liso el cual está recinto por cartílago, lo que permite que tengan la capacidad para aumentar o disminuir su diámetro manteniéndose siempre permeables. Es importante señalar que los bronquios son asiento de un gran tipo de afecciones, siendo las más frecuentes las infecciones que son conocidas como bronquitis en adultos y bronquiolitis en el caso de los infantes. En el caso específico de las bronquitis pueden ser debidas tanto a virus como a bacterias y su principal sintomatología la tos que puede ser seca o húmeda dependiendo de si existen o no secreciones.
