PROPOSED NOMENCLATURE FOR QUANTIFYING SUBDIVISIONS OF THE BRONCHIAL WALL

There is increasing interest in the structural components of the airwa y wall because of the airway remodeling that is observed in conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and because of their contribution to changes in airway mechanics. This interest ha s stimulated several groups to make morphometric measurements on airwa y cross sections, and their results have been reported using a variety of nomenclature. We propose the adoption of a standard system of nome nclature that is based on accepted terms for subdivisions of the airwa y wall and has been agreed to by several groups working in this field.