Abnormal bronchial artery morphology Bronchial artery hypertrophy 2021-01-06T12:29:15Z Increase in the volume of bronchial artery wall due to the enlargement of its component cells. The bronchial circulation and other collateral vessels (eg, the intercostal, internal mammary, and inferior phrenic arteries) respond to chronic pulmonary ischemia and decreased pulmonary blood flow through hypertrophy or enlargement in an effort to maintain blood flow to the affected lung and participate in gas exchange through systemic-pulmonary arterial anastomoses that develop beyond the pulmonary artery obstruction.