Degree of mineralization of pulmonary, tracheal and bronchial tissues in healthy persons of different age

In persons died an accidental or sudden death tissues of the lungs, bronchi of various caliber and trachea have been investigated by means of light microscopy and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The IR spectra of the bronchial and tracheal tissue are identical and differ from the IR spectra of the pulmonary tissues. The mineralization degree (ratio of inorganic to organic components of the tissue) of the pulmonary tissue increases with age, in bronchi and trachea this dependence is expressed not so distinctly. The absolute mineralization degree in the bronchial tissue is 1.3-1.8 times higher than in the lungs. A suggestion is made that mineralization level of the tissue increases with aggravation of sclerosis processes.