bronchopulmonär

Bronchopulmonär is the term used in several Scandinavian languages to describe things relating to both the bronchi and the lungs. In English medical terminology the equivalent adjective is bronchopulmonary. The term is used across anatomy, pathology, radiology, and pediatrics to denote involvement of the airways and the pulmonary parenchyma.

Anatomy and function: The bronchopulmonary system comprises the airway passages from the trachea through the bronchi and bronchioles to the alveolar sacs where gas exchange occurs. The lungs are traditionally described as divided into bronchopulmonary segments, each served by its own segmental bronchus and a dedicated blood supply. The right lung is commonly described as having ten bronchopulmonary segments, while the left lung typically has eight, with some anatomical variation among individuals.

Clinical relevance: The term appears in the names of diseases and conditions that affect both airways and lung tissue, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung disease seen primarily in premature infants, and various bronchopulmonary infections or inflammatory processes. In imaging and pathology, bronchopulmonary changes refer to concurrent involvement of the bronchi and surrounding parenchyma, including mixed inflammatory processes or structural abnormalities that involve both components.

Etymology and usage: The word combines Greek bronch- “windpipe” (bronchos) with Latin pulmon- “lung,” and the suffix -ar to form an adjective meaning “pertaining to the bronchi and lungs.” The term is widely used in comparative anatomy and clinical practice to describe integrated airway–lung phenomena.