1. Pathophysiology of Bronchial Asthma
- Author
-
John Widdicombe
- Subjects
Neurogenic inflammation ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Contraction (grammar) ,business.industry ,Vasoactive intestinal peptide ,Inflammation ,Smooth muscle contraction ,respiratory system ,medicine.disease ,Pathophysiology ,respiratory tract diseases ,medicine ,medicine.symptom ,Airway ,business ,Asthma - Abstract
The primary pathology of asthma is inflammation of the lower airway mucosa. This may lead to secondary contraction of bronchial smooth muscle, both processes narrowing the airways and causing obstruction. The relative importance of mucosal thickness and of smooth muscle contraction is subject to much discussion, and the balance probably varies between patients and during the course of the disease.
- Published
- 1995