What is the term for the smaller airways that branch from the bronchi?

The term for the smaller airways that branch from the bronchi is bronchioles. Bronchioles are the fine tubes that continue to branch off from the larger bronchi, leading to the alveoli, which are tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs. This structure is crucial for respiratory function, as bronchioles play a vital role in directing airflow to the alveoli and regulating airflow resistance in the lungs.

Alveoli are the locations of gas exchange but are not airways themselves; they are at the end of the bronchial tree. Macrophages are immune cells that help to clean the lungs but do not refer to any structures related to the airways. Capillaries are small blood vessels that surround the alveoli and facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the blood, but they are not part of the airway system. Thus, bronchioles is the terminology that accurately describes the smaller branches originating from the bronchi.