Abstract
Anatomically, this system may be divided into 3 sections
based on obvious tissue differences ~ upper
respiratory, middle, and terminal sections. The pathologic
conditions afflicting these areas, however, are no
respectors of boundaries and freely move back and
forth as they invade one area, are defeated, retract to
another to increase their strength, and reinvade to
continue the fight. The invading forces take many
forms, from the almost invisible viruses which must
enter a cell to reproduce, to the prolific bacteria
which multiply their numbers and swell their ranks
by dividing their bodies to form two perfect individuals
every few hours. The fungi and molds (another
nemesis) extend invading tentacles of vegetative
branches to cover an area and then send up fruiting
fronds which burst into thousands of air borne spores
to continue an air borne assault on distant tissues.
Armored foot soldiers ~ the eight-legged mites, penetrate
to the furthest reaches of air saces and pneumatic
bones to create pathology and irritation, sneezing
and gasping.