My watch list

Tertiary bronchus

Tertiary bronchus

1. Trachea 2. Mainstem bronchus 3. Lobar bronchus 4. Segmental bronchus 5. Bronchiole 6. Alveolar duct 7. Alveolus
Latin	bronchi segmentales
Dorlands/Elsevier	b_23/12198382

The tertiary bronchi (also known as the segmental bronchi) arise from the secondary bronchi. The respiratory epithelium lining their lumen is surrounded by a layer of smooth muscle. This layer is composed of two ribbons of smooth muscle that spiral in opposite directions. The smooth muscle layer is surrounded by irregular plates of hyaline cartilage which help maintain the patency of the airway.

Additional recommended knowledge

How to ensure accurate weighing results every day?

Weighing the right way

Daily Visual Balance Check

Each of the tertiary bronchi serves a specific bronchopulmonary segment. There are 10 tertiary bronchi in the right lung, and eight in the left.

The tertiary bronchi get smaller and divide into primary bronchioles.

Additional images

References

Gartner, Leslie P. and James L. Hiatt. Color Textbook of Histology, 2nd ed. (2001). ISBN 0-7216-8806-3

v • d • e Anatomy of torso, respiratory system: Lungs and related structures
lungs	right • left • lingula • apex • base • root • cardiac notch • cardiac impression • hilum • borders (anterior, posterior, inferior) • surfaces (costal, mediastinal, diaphragmatic) • fissures (oblique, horizontal)
conducting zone	trachea (tracheal rings, carina) • bronchi • main bronchus (right, left) • lobar/secondary bronchi (eparterial bronchus) • segmental/tertiary bronchi (bronchopulmonary segment) • bronchiole • terminal bronchiole
respiratory zone	respiratory bronchiole • alveolar duct • alveolus • alveolar-capillary barrier
pleurae	parietal pleura (cervical, costal, mediastinal, diaphragmatic) • visceral pleura • pulmonary ligament • recesses (costomediastinal, costodiaphragmatic) • pleural cavity