1. the smallest air passages in the lungs that branch off from the bronchi
Usage: medical; anatomy

Examples

• The bronchioles carry air from the bronchi to the alveoli.
• Asthma causes inflammation and narrowing of the bronchioles.
• Each bronchiole is less than one millimeter in diameter.
• The respiratory therapist explained how bronchioles help distribute air throughout the lungs.
• Smoking can damage the delicate lining of the bronchioles.
• The doctor used a bronchoscope to examine the patient’s bronchioles.