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Medical Health Encyclopedia
Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease - Introduction
From Healthscout's partner site on asthma, HealthCentral.com
(Page 2)
Chronic BronchitisChronic bronchitis is defined as coughing and excess mucus production that occurs for at least 3 months, during at least 2 consecutive years. In chronic bronchitis, the disease process generally has the following characteristics:
The LungsThe lungs are two spongy organs surrounded by a thin, moist membrane called the pleura. Each lung is made up of smooth, shiny lobes. The right lung has three lobes, and the left has two. About 90% of the lung is filled with air; only 10% is solid tissue. When a person inhales, air travels through the following pathways into the lungs:
Capillaries, the smallest of the blood vessels, carry blood throughout the body. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, and return carbon dioxide to the lungs. White blood cells are the critical infection fighters in the body.
Review Date: 04/10/2010 A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). ![]() | ||||||||
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