What is the definition or description of: bronchoalveolar lavage?

See below: Bronchoalveolar lavage (bal) is a diagnostic procedure in which a fiber-optic bronchoscope is passed through the mouth or nose into the lung and fluid is put into a small part of the lung and then recollected for examination. Bal is typically performed to diagnose lung disease.

General: This definition is adapted from wikipedia and is reasonable for limited space: bronchoalveolar lavage (bal) is procedure in which a bronchoscope is passed through the mouth or nose into the airways and fluid is flushed into the smaller airways and then recollected for examination. This can be used to clear mucous or secretions as well as for diagnosis of disease through analysis of fluid.