Peripheral Airways (noncartilaginous airways <2mm internal diameter)

Bronchiolitis is present in the peripheral airways at an early stage of the disease [8].

There is pathological extension of goblet cells and squamous metaplasia in the peripheral airways [9].

The inflammatory cells in the airway wall and airspaces are similar to those in the larger airways [10].

As the disease progresses, there is fibrosis and increased deposition of collagen in the airway walls [11].

Fig. 2. - Histological sections of peripheral airways from a cigarette smoker with a) a nearly normal airway showing some airway inflammation, b) the presence of an inflammatory exudate in the wall and lumen of the airway, and c) an airway with reduced lumen and structural reorganisation of the airway wall, increased smooth muscle and deposition of peribronchial connective tissue. Printed with kind permission from J.C. Hogg and S. Green.

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