What are the smaller air passages that branch off from the bronchi called?

The smaller air passages that branch off from the bronchi are called bronchioles. These structures are part of the respiratory system and play a crucial role in the process of gas exchange. The bronchioles are significantly smaller in diameter compared to the bronchi and have the ability to further divide into even smaller passages that eventually lead to the alveoli, where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange occurs. Understanding the hierarchy of the respiratory system, starting from the trachea to the main bronchi and then branching into smaller bronchioles, is essential for recognizing how air travels through the lungs and where the vital exchange of gases takes place.