[The role of the system of bronchial arteries in pathology]

The evidence accumulates that bronchial circulation provides important adaptive functions besides serving as "vasa nutritia" of the lungs. One can suppose pathomorphological changes of the bronchial arteries to follow any pulmonary pathology. No doubt that, bronchial arteries in some diseases undergo secondary pathological changes while in others they are of an initiative role. The literature data on bronchial artery structure in normal and pathological conditions are controversial. The present study is likely to generate new information in this area.