Histology of the Bronchi, Bronchioles and Alveoli Flashcards
What is diagnostic histologically for an intrapulmonary bronchus?
Presence and discontinuous arrangement of hyaline cartilage.
Is there cartilage in a bronchiole?
No.
What does the trachea branch into?
Two primary bronchi which are extra pulmonary.
What are the primary bronchi described as?
Extrapulmonary.
What bronchi are described as being extrapulmonary?
Primary bronchi.
What do the primary bronchi branch into?
Secondary and tertiary (segmental) bronchi which are intrapulmonary.
How are the secondary and tertiary (segmental) bronchi described?
Intrapulmonary.
What are the intrapulmonary bronchi?
Secondary and tertiary (segmental) bronchi.
What are the segmental bronchi?
Tertiary bronchi.
What do the tertiary bronchi branch into?
Bronchioles, the smallest of which are terminal bronchioles.
What are the smallest bronchioles called?
Terminal bronchioles.
What are the last components of the conduction portion of the respiratory system?
Terminal bronchioles.
Does air-gas exchange occur in the terminal bronchioles?
No.
What do terminal bronchioles give rise to?
Give rise to the respiratory bronchioles, which ultimately lead to the alveoli.
What do the respiratory bronchioles lead to?
Alveoli.
Does air-gas exchange occur in the respiratory bronchioles?
Yes.
What can occur in the respiratory bronchioles?
Air-gas exchange.
What histologically distinguishes a bronchus?
Hyaline cartilage plates.
What histologically distinguishes a bronchiole?
Smooth muscle and sometimes cilia.
Is there cartilage in bronchioles?
No.
What feature is not present in bronchioles?
Cartilage.
Are there glands or goblet cells in bronchioles?
No.
What is the epithelium in bronchioles?
Either columnar or cuboidal.
What adiditional cells do bronchioles possess?
Clara cells/club cells.
What is the function of Clara / Club cells?
Production of surfactant.
What cells produce surfactant?
Clara / Club cell.
What is the diameter of the bronchioles reliant on?
Smooth muscle tone.
What can cause an asthmatic attack?
Contraction od smooth muscles shutting the airways.
What connective tissue fibres are found in the alveolar walls?
Elastin
Reticulin (type of collagen)
Blood
What are the types of cell found in alveolar walls?
Type I
Type II
Macrophages
What type of cell are Type I cells in the alveolar wall?
Squamous epithelium.
What is the function of Type I cells in the alveolar walls?
Thin cells for gas exchange.
What type of cells are Type II cells in the alveolar walls?
Pneumonocytes.
What is the function of Type II cells in the alveolar walls?
Cuboidal cells for surfactant production.
What is the function of macrophages in the alveolar wall?
White blood cells present for immune engulfing.
