3· Alex suffers from exercise-induced asthma. With this condition, as his exerti

Question

3· Alex suffers from exercise-induced asthma. With this condition, as his exertion level increases, irritants in the air stimulate his bronchioles to constrict. He experiences severe dyspnea (shortness of breath, difficulty breathing) and must stop exercising immediately. He carries with him a drug that dilates his bronchioles and, after administering the drug, he recovers and is able to make his way home to rest from the incident. Using your knowledge of flow, pressure, and resistance (gained from the circulatory system chapters), explain how constriction of the bronchioles causes Alex's symptoms.

Explanation / Answer

During breathing air passes through nostril to the trachea (windpipe). Trachea is divided into two main bronchus: left main broncus and right main broncus. Left main broncus goes to left lung and right main bronchus goes to right lung. Bronchus is divided into bronchi and bronchi further subdivided into broncheoles which goes tp alveoli. Exchange of gases occurs in alveoli. Air passing through trachea ultimately goes to alveoli via bronchus and bronchioles. Constriction of bronchioles causes reduction in diameter of bronchioles and inhibit the flow of air through bronchioles by increasing the pressure and resistance within bronchioles. Due to hindrance of air flow and increased pressure and resistance within bronchioles, shortness of breathing (difficulty in breathing occurs) occurs.

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