Biomaterial Database

The role of fibrosis in the small airways in centrilobular emphysema. 1979

E Alvarez-Fernandez

Small non-respiratory bronchi of lungs of patients suffering from slight and severe centrilobular emphysema of city dwellers and from focal dust emphysema, has been studied, by means of serial sections assessing the importance of the connective tissue proliferation in relation to the cross-sectional morphology of the bronchus, its diameter and longitudinal profile. Camera lucida drawings of parietal muscle and reconstructions of the bronchial wall and lumen were done. A positive relationship between the amount of the connective tissue proliferation, the severity of emphysema and the changes in the parameters indicated was found. The repercussion of fibrosis in the small airways disease of centrilobular emphysema, can be summarized as follows: the production of areas of localized stenosis, the contribution to the development of bronchiolar deformities, the obliteration of some airways and the alteration of bronchial muscle. It can be concluded, therefore, that the fibrosis, as second main cause of small airways obstruction, has a more wide repercussion on the bronchiolar structure than that of alveolar loss, and that it can probably affects not only the "static" characteristics of the bronchial wall, but also their "dynamic" behaviour by means of disorganization of the muscle.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011656	Pulmonary Emphysema	Enlargement of air spaces distal to the TERMINAL BRONCHIOLES where gas-exchange normally takes place. This is usually due to destruction of the alveolar wall. Pulmonary emphysema can be classified by the location and distribution of the lesions.	Emphysema, Pulmonary,Centriacinar Emphysema,Centrilobular Emphysema,Emphysemas, Pulmonary,Focal Emphysema,Panacinar Emphysema,Panlobular Emphysema,Pulmonary Emphysemas,Centriacinar Emphysemas,Centrilobular Emphysemas,Emphysema, Centriacinar,Emphysema, Centrilobular,Emphysema, Focal,Emphysema, Panacinar,Emphysema, Panlobular,Emphysemas, Centriacinar,Emphysemas, Centrilobular,Emphysemas, Focal,Emphysemas, Panacinar,Emphysemas, Panlobular,Focal Emphysemas,Panacinar Emphysemas,Panlobular Emphysemas
D011658	Pulmonary Fibrosis	A process in which normal lung tissues are progressively replaced by FIBROBLASTS and COLLAGEN causing an irreversible loss of the ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream via PULMONARY ALVEOLI. Patients show progressive DYSPNEA finally resulting in death.	Alveolitis, Fibrosing,Idiopathic Diffuse Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis,Fibroses, Pulmonary,Fibrosis, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Fibroses,Alveolitides, Fibrosing,Fibrosing Alveolitides,Fibrosing Alveolitis
D001980	Bronchi	The larger air passages of the lungs arising from the terminal bifurcation of the TRACHEA. They include the largest two primary bronchi which branch out into secondary bronchi, and tertiary bronchi which extend into BRONCHIOLES and PULMONARY ALVEOLI.	Primary Bronchi,Primary Bronchus,Secondary Bronchi,Secondary Bronchus,Tertiary Bronchi,Tertiary Bronchus,Bronchi, Primary,Bronchi, Secondary,Bronchi, Tertiary,Bronchus,Bronchus, Primary,Bronchus, Secondary,Bronchus, Tertiary
D003238	Connective Tissue	Tissue that supports and binds other tissues. It consists of CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS embedded in a large amount of EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX.	Connective Tissues,Tissue, Connective,Tissues, Connective
D004391	Dust	Earth or other matter in fine, dry particles. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	House Dust,Housedust,Dust, House
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000402	Airway Obstruction	Any hindrance to the passage of air into and out of the lungs.	Choking,Airway Obstructions,Obstruction, Airway,Obstructions, Airway