What is the function of asthmatic airway smooth muscle during an asthma attack?

During an asthma attack, the function of the asthmatic airway smooth muscle is to contract and cause airway narrowing. In individuals with asthma, exposure to triggers such as allergens, irritants, or respiratory infections can lead to an inflammatory response. This response causes the smooth muscle lining the airways to become hyper-reactive, leading to excessive contraction.

When the smooth muscles contract, they reduce the diameter of the airways, causing them to narrow. This narrowing results in increased resistance to airflow, which makes breathing more difficult and can lead to symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. The contraction of the airway smooth muscle plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of asthma, making it a key target for asthma management strategies, such as the use of bronchodilators that work to relax these muscles and reopen the airways.