The Reid Index is a mathematical relationship that exists in a human bronchus section observed under the microscope.
The Reid index is not of diagnostic use in vivo since it requires a dissection of the airway tube, but it has value in post mortem evaluations and for research.
who first described the relationship between hypertrophic bronchial mucous glands and the resultant narrowing of the airways seen in chronic bronchitis.
[2] In 1967, Dr. Reid became the first woman to achieve the rank of professor of experimental pathology in England and later became the first dean of the Cardiothoracic Institute at London University.
Chronic smoking causes submucosal gland hypertrophy and hyperplasia, leading to a Reid Index of >0.5 indicating chronic bronchitis.