Physiology and pathology of tracheobronchial glands

The tracheobronchial glands, composed of mucous and serous secretory cells, provide a mucin-rich, antimicrobial-rich secretion for the conducting airw ays. The secretory processes of these cells are under complex neurohumoral control. Several diseases demonstrate considerable increases in the volume of secretory glands, the amount of glandular secretions or the character of the secretory product. The role of the tracheobronchial glands in the path ophysiology of chronic bronchitis, asthma and cystic fibrosis is discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.