We need food to supply the body with nutrients. Also, we cannot do without water, as we are more than half composed of this vital fluid. But for everything else, the human body needs oxygen, which our respiratory system takes from the air. The trachea and bronchi are actively helping with this.
If air access is difficult, then in order to get the necessary amount of oxygen for breathing, the respiratory organs, along with the heart, begin to work intensely. But what is still interesting, the human respiratory system can adapt to environmental conditions.
The importance of the respiratory system
The role of the respiratory system is difficult to overestimate. As we can know from biology lessons, when we exhale we get rid of carbon dioxide CO 2 . When inhaling, oxygen enters the lungs, which from them circulates through the circulatory system to all tissues of the internal organs. Thus, gas exchange is carried out. Being at rest, we consume 0.3 liters of oxygen every minute, while a certain amount of CO 2 is formed in the body and it is less.
In medicine, there is such a term called the respiratory coefficient, which reflects the ratio of the amount of carbon dioxide inside our body to the amount of oxygen delivered to the trachea and bronchi. Under normal conditions, this ratio is 0.9. It is the maintenance of such balance that is the main task that the human respiratory system performs.
The structure of the respiratory system
The respiratory system is a whole complex, which consists of the following components:
- nasal cavity;
- paranasal sinuses;
- larynx;
- trachea;
- bronchi;
- lungs.
In order to better understand how a particular disease inherent in the respiratory system develops, it is worth analyzing how its individual components are arranged.
We also find out what role they play in our body. We will only dwell in more detail on the analysis of the bronchi and trachea, since it is they who are more often subject to pathological changes.
Trachea
Trachea is an intermediate link between the larynx and bronchi. Both the trachea and bronchi have a common structure and look like tubes. Only the length of the first is about 12-15 cm and a diameter of about 1.5-1.8 cm, however, it may change slightly with age. Unlike the lungs, it is an unpaired organ. This is a fairly flexible organ, as it is represented by a compound of 8-20 cartilaginous rings.
It is located between the sixth cervical and fifth thoracic vertebrae. In the lower part, the trachea branches into two main channels, but slightly narrowing just before the separation. This bifurcation in the medical language bears its name - bifurcation. This area has many sensitive receptors. It is worth noting that the trachea has a slightly flattened shape, if you focus on the direction from front to back. For this reason, its transverse section is approximately a couple of millimeters higher than the sagittal parameter.
Continuing the examination of the trachea (and the bronchi will also be described), it is worth noting that in the upper part of the tracheal tube the thyroid gland adjoins it, and behind it passes the esophagus. The organ is lined with a mucous membrane, which is characterized by the ability to absorb. For this reason, inhalation treatment is good. It is also lined with muscular-cartilaginous tissue, which has a fibrous structure.
Bronchial tree
From a visual point of view, the bronchi resemble a tree, only as if turned upside down. Like the lungs, it is also a paired organ, which is formed by the separation of the trachea into two tubes, which are the main bronchi.
Each such tube, in turn, is divided into smaller branches that go to different sections and lobes of the lungs. Moreover, the right organ is slightly different from the left: it is slightly thicker, but shorter and has a more pronounced vertical arrangement. Many diseases of the trachea and bronchi are associated with inflammation of the respiratory tract.
The whole structure has a characteristic name - a bronchial tree, the structure of which, in addition to the main bronchi, includes many branches:
- equity;
- segmental;
- subsegmented;
- bronchioles (lobular, terminal and respiratory).
The trunk of this inverted tree is the trachea itself, from which two main bronchi (right and left) depart. From them come lobar tubes of a slightly smaller size, with three in the right lung and only two in the left. These tubes are also divided into smaller segmental bronchi and, in the end, everything ends with bronchioles. Their diameter is less than 1 mm. At the ends of the latter are small so-called vesicles called alveoli, where, in fact, there is an exchange of carbon dioxide for oxygen.
Interestingly, the trachea, bronchi, lungs are distinguished by a peculiar structure (although the first two organs are similar). The walls of the bronchi have a cartilaginous ring structure, which prevents their spontaneous narrowing.
Inside the bronchi are lined with a mucous membrane with ciliary epithelium. The entire tree-like structure receives nutrition through the bronchial arteries emanating from the thoracic aorta, and it is permeated by the lymph nodes and nerve branches.
Functional purpose of the respiratory trachea and bronchi
The function of the trachea and bronchi is not only to ensure proper gas exchange in the lungs, but is multilateral. For example, a flexible tube in our body works like a resonator, since air also passes through the vocal cords. Thus, the trachea takes part in the formation of the voice. As for the bronchi themselves, they are able to destroy and neutralize some toxic substances that are harmful to our body.
In addition, the mucous membranes of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi are covered with ciliated epithelium, which contains cilia. Their movement is directed to the larynx and mouth. The glands present in the mucous membrane secrete a special secret, which, when a foreign body enters, immediately envelops it and, thanks to the movement of the cilia, promotes its removal into the oral cavity. The ingestion of a large foreign body reflexively causes a cough.
But, what is especially interesting, the air passing through the trachea and bronchi, heats up to the required temperature and becomes moist. Lymph nodes in the bronchi are involved in important immune processes in the body.
Pathological changes in the respiratory system
Often, diseases of the trachea or bronchi occur in the form of inflammatory processes in their mucous membranes. They can occur both in acute and in chronic form. As for the nature of inflammation, it can be:
- catarrhal;
- fibrinous;
- purulent;
- putrid.
Dysfunction of the trachea and bronchi means damage to the bronchi or trachea. Moreover, if we consider the first, then the change in large bronchi is called macrobronchitis, and bronchioles - microbronchitis, or bronchiolitis. The most common pathologies include bronchial asthma and tracheitis - inflammation of the trachea.
Tracheal disease
Tracheal diseases include stenosis, fistula, and thermal burn. In most cases, tracheitis, which is widespread, can go into another pathology - bronchitis, in which case it is known as tracheobronchitis. The pathology seems harmless, but subsequently there may be serious complications. Therefore, it is better not to delay the treatment of this disease.
In rare cases, tracheitis occurs as an independent disease (primary manifestation), most often this is a consequence of some untreated pathology of the respiratory system (secondary manifestation). It can occur in any person, regardless of age and gender. Most often, the lungs, bronchi, trachea, and larynx of children are at risk, because their immune system is still too weak to properly deal with some threats.
There are several types:
- acute;
- chronic;
- infectious;
- non-infectious;
- mixed.
In this case, the disease of an infectious nature may be viral, fungal or bacterial.
Bronchial disease
A common case of bronchitis is bronchitis, which is also worth mentioning. Pathology is expressed by inflammation of the walls of the respiratory tubes. The causes of the disease can be various factors, which may include:
- The presence of bacteria or viruses.
- Long period of use of tobacco products.
- Predisposition to exposure to allergens.
- Exposure to chemical or toxic substances.
Thus, the disease can be of the following type:
- bacterial;
- viral;
- chemical;
- fungal;
- allergic.
Therefore, it is imperative that the doctor, based on the results of the studies, accurately determine the type of disease of the bronchi, trachea. Like any disease, bronchitis manifests itself in acute and chronic forms.
The acute form proceeds with fever, accompanied by dry or wet cough. Mostly, with proper treatment, it disappears in a few days. In some cases, it takes several months. Often, acute bronchitis is classified as a cold or an infectious disease. As a rule, it does not end with any consequences.
The chronic form of bronchitis can drag on for several years. At the same time, the patient has a cough, and every year exacerbations occur, lasting more than one month.
The main thing is to pay due attention to the acute stage of the disease so that it does not become chronic. The long-term effect of the disease on the body does not pass without a trace and can lead to complex, irreversible consequences for all respiratory organs.
Treatment
Depending on the diagnosis (bronchitis, tracheitis), the nature of the course of the disease, the presence of risks of exacerbation, the necessary course of treatment is prescribed. Considering the possibility of inflammation of the trachea, bronchi can cause serious exacerbations or not, the attending physician decides to send the patient to a hospital, or he can undergo treatment at home.
Therapy includes an extensive range of measures, which in addition to medications includes a number of physiotherapeutic procedures: from warming up and inhalation to massage and physical education.