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Bronch- is a combining form used like a prefix representing the words bronchus or bronchia. The bronchus (plural bronchi) is either of two main branches of the trachea that goes to the lung. The bronchia are smaller branches off of the bronchi. Bronch- is used in many medical terms.

Bronch- comes from the Greek ����ó�Գ���Dz�, meaning “windpipe,” another name for the trachea.

Bronch- is a variant of broncho-, which loses its -o– when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.

Want to know more? Read our �������t¶��s That Use broncho- article.

Bronchitis is “acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining of the bronchial tubes.”

The first part of the word, bronch- represents “bronchi.” The second part of the word, -itis, denotes “inflammation.” Bronchitis literally translates to “bronchi inflammation.”  The word bronchitis was formed in New Latin, using an equivalent form of bronch-.

What are some words related to the combining form bronch-?

• bronchial
• bronchiole
• bronchiloquy
• bronchic

What are some other forms that bronch- may be commonly confused with?

• brachio-
• brachy-
• branchi-
• branchio-

The suffix -al means “pertaining to” or “related to.” Based on the meaning of bronch-, what does bronchial mean?