Pulmonology

Pulmonology is the branch of medicine that studies and treats diseases of the lungs and respiratory system.

Respiratory system

The respiratory system has three main parts, namely the airways, lungs and breathing muscles.

The airways include:

• nose
• mouth
• throat, or pharynx 
• vocal apparatus, or larynx
• airway, or trachea
• the bronchi, or exit into the lungs
• the bronchioles, or even smaller outlets in the lungs
• alveoli, or the tiny bubbles at the end of the bronchioles.

Several muscles are involved in breathing. Among them, the diaphragm is the first to be mentioned. The others can be divided into groups:

The intercostal muscles are the groups of muscles that are located between the ribs, form the chest wall and allow it to move. The intercostal muscles do the mechanical aspect of breathing - the expansion and contraction of the rib cage.

The auxiliary muscles - auxiliary muscles do not play a major role in the act of breathing, they have an auxiliary function. Their activity at rest is a sign of impaired breathing.

Due to the elasticity of the lungs, exhalation is a passive process. Expiratory muscles, which include the abdominal wall muscles and partly the intercostal muscles, are involved in the process of rapid and strong exhalation.

Conditions commonly treated by pulmonologists include:

• asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema, which is caused by damage to the alveoli in the lungs
• bronchiectasis, a condition where there is inflammation and excessive mucus accumulation
• acute and chronic bronchitis, which develops from inflammation of the lower airways
• interstitial lung diseases, which are characterized by persistent inflammation and scarring
• occupational lung disease, which can develop from inhaling dust, chemicals and proteins
• obstructive sleep apnea, which causes your breathing to slow or stop completely during sleep

• tuberculosis, an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs.