tracheobronchial

Tracheobronchial refers to the airway system that conducts air from the larynx to the lungs. It encompasses the trachea and the bronchial tree, including the main bronchi and the successive generations of branching. The term is used for anatomy, diseases, and imaging findings involving these central airways.

Anatomically, the trachea is a rigid, cartilaginous tube with C-shaped rings that bifurcates at the carina into the right and left main bronchi. These give rise to lobar (secondary) and segmental (tertiary) bronchi, with cartilage becoming discontinuous and smooth muscle increasing in the smaller airways. The mucosa is lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells, and submucosal glands produce mucus.

Functionally, the tracheobronchial tree conducts and conditions inspired air, warming and humidifying it while filtering particulates by mucociliary clearance. It also participates in immune defense, containing lymphoid tissue and serving as an initial barrier to inhaled pathogens.

Clinically, diseases can involve inflammation (tracheitis, tracheobronchitis), structural weakness (tracheobronchomalacia), or obstruction that narrows the airways. Evaluation uses imaging, particularly computed tomography, and endoscopic methods such as bronchoscopy for direct visualization, biopsies, or lavage. Knowledge of the tracheobronchial region is essential in anesthesia and airway management and in the assessment of wheeze, chronic cough, or dyspnea.