Final answer:
The right primary bronchus is more prone to foreign object lodgment because it is wider, shorter, and more vertical than the left primary bronchus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The right primary bronchus is more likely to have foreign objects lodge in it due to its anatomy. The trachea bifurcates into the right and left primary bronchi at the carina, with the right bronchus being wider, shorter, and more vertical in orientation compared to the left.
This anatomical difference means that foreign objects that enter the trachea are more inclined to follow the path of least resistance, descending into the right bronchus. Furthermore, the bronchi continue to branch into a bronchial tree, with each bronchus dividing into secondary and then tertiary bronchi before ending in the bronchioles and eventually the alveoli.
The protective mechanisms, such as the mucous membrane that traps debris and cilia that move mucus and particles out of the bronchi, are sometimes not enough to prevent foreign objects from becoming lodged in the bronchial passages. Surgical intubation typically occurs at the beginning of the pharynx, to maintain an open airway into the trachea and beyond.