What are "bronchi"?

What are "bronchi"?

Richard Sheldon (Medical Advisor to the CA State Respiratory Care Board) gives expert video advice on: How is a pulmonologist different from other doctors?; What is the difference between the nasal cavity and the sinuses? and more...

Bronchi are tubes that start at the end of the trachea, so you have the right and left main stem bronchi. And then they divide into smaller and smaller bronchi as they reach the periphery of the lung. Bronchi are amazing. They have a lining called "mucosa," which secretes a lot of different compounds. They have little, fine cilia on them to help move mucous up to help cleanse the lung. Then under the mucosa is a series of muscles and cartilage that allow for the airways to contract and dilate as they need to contract and dilate, given whatever circumstances.