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Bronchioles

Bronchioli · Průdušinky

Respiratory system

Looks like

Airways narrower than about 1 mm, with no cartilage — just smooth muscle rings in their walls.

What it does

Carry air deep into the lung and adjust how much reaches each part by tightening or relaxing.

Keeping it well

In asthma their muscle clamps down and the lining swells; a preventer inhaler taken daily reduces attacks. Breathlessness too bad to finish a sentence, or a reliever inhaler that no longer helps, needs emergency care.

Related conditions