Bronchoconstriction/ bronchodilation refers to?

[CuriousGeorge2]

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So, I know that both the bronchi and the bronchioles have smooth muscle in their walls. But when talking about broncho-constriction or -dilation are we referring to bronchi, bronchioles, or both (in the context really of sympathetic and parasympathetic tone). One of my texts say bronchi, while my lecture notes say bronchioles...

I am more inclined to think it's the bronchioles because much of the bronchi are held stiffly open by cartilage plates, but I'm not sure - the sources I've looked at just say airway smooth muscle rather than referring to the type of airway...

 

[OveractiveBrain]

So, I know that both the bronchi and the bronchioles have smooth muscle in their walls. But when talking about bronchoconstriction or dilation are we referring to bronchi, bronchioles, or both (in the context really of sympathetic and parasympathetic tone). One of my texts say bronchi, while my lecture notes say bronchioles...

I am more inclined to think it's the bronchioles because much of the bronchi are held stiffly open by cartilage plates, but I'm not sure - the sources I've looked at just say airway smooth muscle rather than referring to the type of airway...

Slow down their champ.

Bronchodilation means "lung opens, more air in and out, easier breathing"

while

Bronchoconstriction means "lung closes, less air in and out, harder breathing"

donezo

 

[UVAbme2009]

Slow down their champ.

This. Big picture bro. Big picture.

 

[LoveandHate]

So, I know that both the bronchi and the bronchioles have smooth muscle in their walls. But when talking about bronchoconstriction or dilation are we referring to bronchi, bronchioles, or both (in the context really of sympathetic and parasympathetic tone). One of my texts say bronchi, while my lecture notes say bronchioles...

I am more inclined to think it's the bronchioles because much of the bronchi are held stiffly open by cartilage plates, but I'm not sure - the sources I've looked at just say airway smooth muscle rather than referring to the type of airway...

Ask the professor or do what I do and believe the lecture notes... your prof is who will be testing you not the text author.

BTW I think the answer is both...

 

[aSagacious]

Correct me if I'm mistaken but I'm fairly certain that the most profound effects on bronchial resistance due to autonomic innervation are in the bronchioles, specifically the terminal bronchioles where there is a steep drop-off in supportive cartilage and a thickening of the surrounding smooth muscle layer.

 

[CuriousGeorge2]

Slow down their champ.

Bronchodilation means "lung opens, more air in and out, easier breathing"

while

Bronchoconstriction means "lung closes, less air in and out, harder breathing"

donezo

Uh... I know this. After rereading my post, I could see how you might not think so. I wrote "bronchoconstriction or dilation" I meant bronchoconstriction or bronchodilation, and meant to put a hyphen before the dilate rather than write out bronchodilation...

 

[CuriousGeorge2]

Correct me if I'm mistaken but I'm fairly certain that the most profound effects on bronchial resistance due to autonomic innervation are in the bronchioles, specifically the terminal bronchioles where there is a steep drop-off in supportive cartilage and a thickening of the surrounding smooth muscle layer.

That looks like a useful image, where is it from?

 

[aSagacious]

That looks like a useful image, where is it from?

Last week's histology lecture. 😛

Here's the source: "Laboratory Guide for Microscopic Anatomy" B.L. Baker, et al, 1965, p.59

 

[CuriousGeorge2]

Thanks!