luftvägsvävnad

Luftvägsvävnad refers to the specialized tissues that form the respiratory tract, responsible for the exchange of gases in the body. This complex system begins with the nasal cavity and pharynx, where air is warmed, humidified, and filtered. From there, air passes through the larynx, or voice box, and into the trachea, commonly known as the windpipe. The trachea is a sturdy tube kept open by C-shaped rings of cartilage, ensuring a clear passage for air.

Further down, the trachea bifurcates into two main bronchi, one leading to each lung. These bronchi then subdivide repeatedly into smaller and smaller tubes called bronchioles. The innermost layer of the conducting airways is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium. This epithelium contains goblet cells that produce mucus, which traps foreign particles, and cilia, which are tiny hair-like structures that beat rhythmically to move the mucus and trapped debris upwards and out of the respiratory system.

At the terminal ends of the bronchioles are the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs. This is where the crucial gas exchange takes place. The walls of the alveoli are extremely thin, composed of simple squamous epithelium, and are surrounded by a dense network of capillaries. Oxygen from inhaled air diffuses across the thin alveolar and capillary walls into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, diffuses from the blood into the alveoli to be exhaled. The smooth muscle present in the walls of bronchioles allows for regulation of airflow by constricting or dilating these passages. This intricate arrangement of tissues ensures efficient respiration and the body's supply of oxygen.