{"id":1799,"date":"2020-08-17T13:32:45","date_gmt":"2020-08-17T13:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/thorax\/respiratory-system\/trachea-and-bronchi\/"},"modified":"2021-11-04T07:30:47","modified_gmt":"2021-11-04T05:30:47","slug":"trachea-and-bronchial-tree","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/thorax\/respiratory-system\/trachea-and-bronchial-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"Trachea and bronchial tree"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><div class=\"intro\">The trachea is a membranocartilaginous tube conveying air in and out of the lungs. The bronchial tree is the branching continuation of the trachea.<\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/trachea.png\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Trachea and bronchial tree\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"956\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/trachea-956x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/trachea-956x1024.png 956w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/trachea-280x300.png 280w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/trachea-768x823.png 768w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/trachea-1433x1536.png 1433w, https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/trachea.png 1493w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 956px) 100vw, 956px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><strong>The trachea and its related structures&nbsp;<\/strong><br>(Credit: Blausen.com, CC BY-SA 4.0)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_1\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Trachea<\/h3>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_1\">\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\" id=\"block-22201457-e93d-4367-879e-64984ffde964\"><li>The trachea connects the larynx to the bronchial tree.<\/li><li>It is made of C shaped cartilaginous (hyaline) rings, mucous membranes, and a smooth muscle (<strong>trachialis<\/strong>).<\/li><li>It is located anterior to the esophagus, and it starts just below the cricoid cartilage (C6) and descends down until the transverse thoracic plane (between the sternal angle and T4-5 IV disc).<\/li><li>The bottom terminal part of the trachea contains a part known as the <strong>carina<\/strong> (internal ridge): a projection of the last tracheal cartilage that separates the trachea to the right and left main bronchi. The carina is located at the level of the sternal angle.<\/li><li>The right primary bronchus is wider, shorter, and more vertical than the left primary bronchus.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_2\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Path<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_2\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The trachea descends through the neck until it enters the superior mediastinum. It deviates slightly to the right, ending at the level of the sternal angle by dividing into the <strong>right<\/strong> and <strong>left main <\/strong>(or <strong>primary<\/strong>) <strong>bronchi<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_3\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Syntopy<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_3\">\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The trachea is located anterior to the esophagus<\/li><li>The&nbsp;<strong>cardiac plexus<\/strong>&nbsp;in most of the time lays on the anterior surface of the bifurcation of the trachea<\/li><li>The&nbsp;<strong>brachiocephalic trunk,&nbsp;<\/strong>the first and largest branch of the arch of the aorta, locates anterior to the trachea, however, when it ascends superolaterally it reaches the right side of the trachea<\/li><li>The&nbsp;<strong>left subclavian artery&nbsp;<\/strong>ascends laterally to the trachea<\/li><li>The <strong>superior vena cava&nbsp;<\/strong>(<strong>SVC<\/strong>) lies at the right side of the superior mediastinum, anterolateral to the trachea<\/li><li>The&nbsp;<strong>arch of the aorta&nbsp;<\/strong>ascends anterior to the right pulmonary artery and the bifurcation of the trachea.<\/li><li>The apex of the aortic arch is located at the left side of the trachea and esophagus.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_4\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Bronchial tree<\/h3>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_4\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The structural organization of the bronchi and bronchioles is known as a <strong>dichotomic structure<\/strong>; which means separation into two segments at each point of division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The<strong>&nbsp;right main bronchus<\/strong>&nbsp;is wider and has a less steep angle (closer to the midline). It runs under the arch of the azygos vein and divides into&nbsp;<strong>three lobar bronchi<\/strong>, and finally to 10 segmental bronchi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The<strong>&nbsp;left main bronchus<\/strong>&nbsp;is less wide and has a steeper angle. It is inferior to the arch of the aorta, crossing anteriorly to the esophagus and thoracic aorta, dividing into&nbsp;<strong>two lobar bronchi<\/strong>, and finally to 8-10 segmental bronchi.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_5\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Arrangement of the bronchial tree<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_5\">\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Main bronchus<\/li><li>Lobar bronchus<\/li><li>Segmental bronchus<\/li><li>Bronchiole<\/li><li>Terminal bronchiole<\/li><li>Respiratory bronchiole<\/li><li>Alveolar sac<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_6\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Clinical information<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_6\">\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Due to the structure of the right main bronchus (its angle and diameter) compared to the left bronchus, there\u2019s a higher chance of inhaled objects getting stuck in there \u2014 therefore, during bronchoscopy, it is the first one to be looked at.<\/li><li>Sympathetic stimulation causes&nbsp;<strong>bronchodilation&nbsp;<\/strong>(widening of the lumen)&nbsp;and vasodilation of the respiratory blood vessels (allowing better, and easier breathing), while parasympathetic stimulation causes bronchoconstriction and vasoconstriction.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_7\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title1\">Neurovasculature<\/h3>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_7\">\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_8\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Blood supply<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_8\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The left bronchial arteries&nbsp;(superior and inferior) usually branches from the&nbsp;thoracic aorta. The single&nbsp;right bronchial artery&nbsp;usually arises from one of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The&nbsp;thoracic aorta together with the right 3rd&nbsp;posterior intercostal artery.<\/li><li>The superior bronchial artery on the left side<\/li><li>Any number of the right&nbsp;intercostal arteries&nbsp;mostly the third right posterior intercostal artery.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_9\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Innervation<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_9\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vagus nerve provides presynaptic parasympathetic visceral sensation and visceral&nbsp;motor fibers to the trachea. The sympathetic postsynaptic fibers arise at T2-T4.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span><span class=\"block-heading\" id=\"header_10\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"title_collection title2\">Lymph drainage<\/h4>\n<\/span><span class=\"block-content\" id=\"contents_10\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lymphatic vessels of the trachea draining into the following<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Pretracheal nodes<\/li><li>Paratracheal nodes<\/li><li>Inferior deep cervical nodes.<\/li><li>Tracheobronchial (or bronchotracheal)<\/li><li>Bronchomediastinal trunk<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All of the above drains into the thoracic duct\/lymphatic trunk.<\/p>\n<\/span><div id=\"the_titles\" style=\"display:none;\"><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trachea<\/h3><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Path<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Syntopy<\/h4><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bronchial tree<\/h3><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Arrangement of the bronchial tree<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clinical information<\/h4><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Neurovasculature<\/h3><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Blood supply<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Innervation<\/h4><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lymph drainage<\/h4><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trachea The trachea connects the larynx to the bronchial tree. It is made of C shaped cartilaginous (hyaline) rings, mucous membranes, and a smooth muscle (trachialis). It is located anterior to the esophagus, and it starts just below the cricoid cartilage (C6) and descends down until the transverse thoracic plane (between the sternal angle and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1774,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1799","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Trachea and bronchial tree &#8211; Meddists<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/pre-clinical\/anatomy\/thorax\/respiratory-system\/trachea-and-bronchial-tree\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/meddists.com\\\/learn\\\/pre-clinical\\\/anatomy\\\/thorax\\\/respiratory-system\\\/trachea-and-bronchial-tree\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/meddists.com\\\/learn\\\/pre-clinical\\\/anatomy\\\/thorax\\\/respiratory-system\\\/trachea-and-bronchial-tree\\\/\",\"name\":\"Trachea and bronchial tree &#8211; 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