We need food to supply the body with nutrients. Also, we cannot do without water, as more than half of this vital fluid. But in addition to everything else, the human body needs oxygen, which our respiratory system takes from the air. The trachea and bronchi actively help with this.
If air access is difficult, then in order to get the necessary amount of oxygen for breathing, the respiratory organs, together with the heart, begin to work hard. But more interestingly, the human respiratory system can adapt to environmental conditions.
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 CO2. When you inhale, oxygen enters the lungs, which from them is carried by the circulatory system to all tissues of the internal organs. Thus, gas exchange takes place. Being at rest, we consume 0.3 liters of oxygen every minute, while inthe body produces a certain amount of CO2 and it is less.
In medicine, there is a term called the respiratory coefficient, which reflects the ratio of the amount of carbon dioxide inside our body to the amount of oxygen supplied to the trachea and bronchi. Under normal conditions, this ratio is 0.9. It is the maintenance of this 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.
To better understand how this or that disease inherent in the respiratory system develops, it is worth analyzing how its individual components are arranged.
We will also find out what role they play in our body. We will only dwell on the analysis of the bronchi and trachea, since they are more often subject to pathological changes.
Trachea
The trachea is an intermediate link between the larynx and the 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, although it can change slightly with age. Unlike the lungs, it is an unpaired organ. This is a rather flexible organ, as it is represented by a connection of 8-20 cartilage rings.
It is located between the sixthcervical and fifth thoracic vertebrae. In the lower part, the trachea branches into two main channels, but narrows slightly just before separation. Such bifurcation in medical language bears its name - bifurcation. This area has many sensitive receptors. It is worth noting that the trachea has a slightly flattened shape when oriented from front to back. For this reason, its transverse section is about a couple of millimeters larger than the sagittal parameter.
Continuing the consideration 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 the esophagus passes behind it. The organ is lined with a mucous membrane, which is distinguished by its ability to absorb. For this reason, it is good to carry out treatment with inhalation. It is also lined with muscular-cartilaginous tissue, which has a fibrous structure.
Bronchial tree
From a visual point of view, the bronchi look like a tree, only upside down. Like the lungs, this is also a paired organ, which is formed by dividing the trachea into two tubes, which are the main bronchi.
Each such tube, in turn, is divided into smaller branches that go to different areas and lobes of the lungs. At the same time, 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 airways.
The whole structure has a characteristic name -bronchial tree, the structure of which, in addition to the main bronchi, includes many branches:
- equity;
- segmental;
- subsegmental;
- bronchioles (lobular, terminal and respiratory).
The trunk of this inverted tree is the trachea itself, from which two main bronchi (right and left) branch off. From them go lobar tubes of a slightly smaller size, and there are three of them in the right lung, and only two in the left. These tubes also divide into smaller segmental bronchi and, in the end, everything ends in bronchioles. Their diameter is less than 1 mm. At the ends of the latter are small so-called bubbles, called alveoli, where, in fact, the exchange of carbon dioxide for oxygen takes place.
Interestingly, the trachea, bronchi, lungs differ in their peculiar structure (although the first two organs are similar). The walls of the bronchi have a cartilaginous annular structure, which prevents their spontaneous narrowing.
Inside, the bronchi are lined with a mucous membrane with ciliated epithelium. The entire dendritic structure is nourished by bronchial arteries from the thoracic aorta and is pierced by 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 multifaceted. For example, a flexible tube in our body works like a resonator, since air also passes through the voiceligaments. Thus, the trachea takes part in the formation of the voice. As for the bronchi directly, 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, bronchi are covered with ciliated epithelium, which contains cilia. Their movement is directed towards 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, contributes to its removal into the oral cavity. The hit 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 humid. 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 membrane. They can occur in both acute and chronic forms. As for the nature of the inflammation, it can be:
- catarrhal;
- fibrinous;
- purulent;
- rotten.
Trocheal and bronchial dysfunction means damage to the bronchi or trachea. Moreover, if we consider the first, then the change in the large bronchi is called macrobronchitis, and the bronchioles are called microbronchitis, or bronchiolitis. The most common pathologies include bronchial asthma and tracheitis -inflammation of the trachea.
Trocheal diseases
Trocheal diseases include stenosis, fistulas and thermal burns. In most cases, tracheitis, which is widespread, can progress to another pathology - bronchitis, in which case it is known as tracheobronchitis. The pathology seems harmless, but there may be serious complications later. Therefore, it is better not to delay the treatment of this disease.
Tracheitis in rare cases occurs as an independent disease (primary manifestation), most often it is a consequence of some untreated pathology of the respiratory system (secondary manifestation). It can occur in any person, regardless of age and gender. The lungs, bronchi, trachea, and larynx of children are most often at risk, as their immune system is still too weak to properly fight some of the threats.
There are several types:
- spicy;
- chronic;
- infectious;
- non-infectious;
- mixed.
At the same time, an infectious disease can be viral, fungal or bacterial.
Diseases of the bronchial tubes
Bronchitis is a frequent case of 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:
- Presence of bacteria or viruses.
- Long period of tobacco use.
- Predisposition toexposure to allergens.
- Exposure to chemicals or toxic substances.
Thus, the disease can be of the following type:
- bacterial;
- viral;
- chemical;
- fungal;
- allergic.
Therefore, it is extremely important that the doctor, based on the results of ongoing research, accurately determine the type of disease of the bronchi, trachea. Like any disease, bronchitis manifests itself in acute and chronic forms.
The acute form occurs with fever, accompanied by a dry or wet cough. Most of the time, with proper treatment, it clears up in a few days. In some cases, it takes several months. Often, acute bronchitis is classified as a cold or infectious disease. As a rule, it does not end with any consequences.
Chronic bronchitis can last for several years. At the same time, the patient has a cough, and every year there are exacerbations that last more than one month.
The main thing is to pay due attention to the acute stage of the disease so that it does not turn into a chronic form. Prolonged exposure to the disease on the body does not go unnoticed 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 whether inflammation of the trachea, bronchi can cause serious exacerbationsor not, the attending physician decides to refer the patient to a hospital, or he can be treated at home.
Therapy includes an extensive range of measures, which, in addition to medications, also includes a number of physiotherapy procedures: from heating and inhalation to massage and physical education.
