Tertiary bronchi

The tertiary bronchi (also known as the segmental bronchi) arise from the secondary bronchi. The respiratory epithelium lining their lumen is surrounded by a layer of smooth muscle. This layer is composed of two ribbons of smooth muscle that spiral in opposite directions. The smooth muscle layer is surrounded by irregular plates of hyaline cartilage which help maintain the patency of the airway.

Each of the tertiary bronchi serves a specific bronchopulmonary segment. There are 10 tertiary bronchi in the right lung, and eight in the left.

The tertiary bronchi get smaller and divide into bronchioles.

In the following image, number “4” points to the tertiary bronchi (1- trachea, 2- primary bronchi, 3- secondary bronchi, 5- bronchioles):