Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Videomorphometric Analysis of Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction of Intra-pulmonary Arteries Using Murine Precision Cut Lung Slices
Published on: January 14, 2014
Abnormalities of the bronchial arteries in asthma
Francis H Y Green1, John C Butt, Alan L James
1Respiratory Research Group, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N1, Canada. fgreen@ucalgary.ca
Study Objectives:
The bronchial arteries supply systemic blood to the airways, tracheobronchial lymph nodes, and nerves. Their structure has not been studied in patients with asthma.
Design:
Case-control study of pathologic changes of bronchial arteries in asthma.
Participants And Methods:
Postmortem lungs were examined from three case groups: (1) fatal asthma (n = 12), death due to asthma; (2) nonfatal asthma (n = 12), asthmatic and death due to nonrespiratory causes; and (3) nonasthmatic control subjects (n = 12), no history of asthma and death due to nonrespiratory causes. In bronchial arteries with outer diameters of 0.1 to 1.0 mm, the areas of lumen, intima, and media were measured and compared between case groups.
Results:
There were no significant differences in artery size (outer diameter) or in medial area between the three groups. In the two asthma groups, the intimal area was increased (p < 0.05), with a corresponding decrease in luminal area compared with the control group. There was a significant effect of gender, age, and smoking on intimal area. In the asthma cases, the area of bronchial artery intima was related to duration of asthma (p < 0.05), and this increase was associated with smooth muscle proliferation, reduplication, and calcification of the elastica, but not with inflammatory cell infiltration.
Conclusions:
While the pathophysiologic significance of these changes is uncertain, the relation to duration of asthma, age, and smoking suggests a secondary response to chronic airway disease.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Bronchial Tree
The trachea, commonly known as the windpipe, is a tube that connects the larynx (voice box) to the bronchi. At a point called the carina, it bifurcates into two primary bronchi. The right primary bronchus is wider, shorter, and more vertical than the left primary...
Asthma I: Introduction
Respiratory System Abnormal Finding I: Inspection and Percussion
Inspection Findings
During an inspection, several findings may suggest the presence of respiratory distress or disease. Pursed-lip breathing, where exhalation is slowed by...
Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
