Definition

Noun: 1. A small airway in the respiratory system: A bronchiole is any of the small, thin-walled branches of a bronchus within the lungs. These tubes conduct air from the larger bronchi to the microscopic air sacs called alveoli, where gas exchange occurs.

Usage and Examples

• General Use: The term is used in anatomical, medical, and biological contexts to describe the structure of the lower respiratory tract.
  • During an asthma attack, the muscles around the bronchioles tighten, making it difficult to breathe.
  • The inhaled air travels down the trachea, through the bronchi, and into the bronchioles.
  • The diagram showed how the bronchioles branch repeatedly like a tree.

Advanced Usage

• Pathological Contexts: Often discussed in relation to diseases that affect the small airways.
  • Bronchiolitis is an inflammatory condition that primarily affects the bronchioles in infants.
  • The biopsy revealed constriction of the bronchioles.

Variants and Related Words

• Bronchus (noun): One of the two main branches of the trachea leading directly into the lungs. (Plural: Bronchi).
• Bronchiolar (adjective): Relating to or affecting the bronchioles.
  • The doctor noted bronchiolar inflammation.
• Bronchiolitis (noun): Inflammation of the bronchioles.

Synonyms

• Small airway: A general clinical term.
• Respiratory ductule: A more technical synonym.

Notes on Meaning

The word bronchiole refers specifically to the smaller subdivisions of the bronchial tree. It is distinct from the larger bronchi. The primary function of bronchioles is to serve as passageways for air, not to participate in gas exchange, which is the role of the alveoli at their termini.

Noun

1. any of the smallest bronchial ducts; ending in alveoli