The inter-alveolar septum provides the structural basis for gas exchange in the lung (see Weibel 1973; Weibel and Gil 1977; Maina and West 2006). It separates the air compartment (alveolar airspace) from the blood compartment (capillary lumen).

What are alveolar phagocytes?

Definition. Alveolar macrophages are mononuclear phagocytes found in the alveoli of the lungs. They ingest small inhaled particles resulting in the degradation, clearance and presentation of the antigen to adaptive immune cells.

What is alveolar interdependence?

Alveolar Interdependence and Anti-Adherence As alveoli are inter-connected, any alveolus tending to collapse will be held open, because it will be supported by the walls of adjoining alveoli; this interaction between alveoli is termed interdependence.

What are alveolar macrophages?

Alveolar macrophages are the first line of defense against pollutants and pathogenic microbes that initiate an innate immune response in the lung. Two phenotypes of alveolar macrophages have been identified: classically activated macrophage (M1 macrophage) and alternatively activated macrophage (M2 macrophage).

What is alveolar septum in lungs?

The alveolar septum separates adjacent alveoli in lung tissue. The minimal components of an alveolar septum consist of the basement membranes of alveolar-lining epithelium (mostly type I pneumocytes) and capillary endothelium.

What is alveolar septal edema?

alveolar edema pulmonary edema in the alveoli, usually with hypoxemia and dyspnea. … The most common type is vasogenic edema, which may result from increased capillary pressure or from increased capillary permeability caused by trauma to the capillary walls. Cellular edema may occur in ischemia or hypoxia of the brain.

Which cell is also called an alveolar phagocytes?

alveolar macrophages The cell membrane of alveolar macrophages can change its shape during mobilization or phagocytosis by the activation of the microtubule network. The movement of alveolar macrophages to the site of tissue injury in response to certain chemicals is known as chemotaxis [5].

Are Type 1 alveolar cells phagocytic?

Two types are pneumocytes or pneumonocytes known as type I and type II cells found in the alveolar wall, and a large phagocytic cell known as an alveolar macrophage that moves about in the lumens of the alveoli, and in the connective tissue between them.

What are alveolar cells?

The alveolar epithelial cells (pneumocytes) line the alveolar compartment of the lungs. … Type I alveolar cells are squamous extremely thin cells involved in the process of gas exchange between the alveoli and blood. Type II alveolar cells are involved in the secretion of surfactant proteins.

What is alveolar surface tension?

The term surface tension refers to the cohesive state that occurs at a liquid-gas interface or liquid-liquid interface. 35. Within the lungs, this occurs at the interface between the alveolar membrane and the airway. Increased surface tension increases cohesion within the alveoli, pulling the alveoli closed.

How does interdependence promote alveolar stability?

The interplay between components of the respiratory system including the airways, parenchyma and vasculature is often referred to as “interdependence.” This interdependence transmits the elastic recoil of the lung to create an effective pressure that dilates the airways as transpulmonary pressure and lung volume …

Why are alveoli elastic?

The alveoli are highly elastic structures in the parenchyma of the lungs that are the functional site of gas exchange. … The reason for the elasticity of the alveoli is a protein found in the extracellular matrix of the alveoli, called elastin, as well as the surface tension of water molecules on the alveoli themselves.

What are liver macrophages?

In the liver, macrophages are called Kupffer cells. They line tiny blood vessels in the liver, where they do a lot of things, including maintaining the body’s iron levels and clearing away endotoxins produced by gut bacteria.

What is a macrophage?

Listen to pronunciation. (MA-kroh-fayj) A type of white blood cell that surrounds and kills microorganisms, removes dead cells, and stimulates the action of other immune system cells.

What is the role of alveolar macrophages quizlet?

What is the function of Alveolar Macrophages? Responsible for cleaning inhaled particles and lung surfactant.

What does the alveoli do in the respiratory system?

The alveoli are where the lungs and the blood exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide during the process of breathing in and breathing out.

Where is the septum in the lungs?

The interlobular septa (singular: interlobular septum) are located between the secondary pulmonary lobules and are continuous with both the subpleural interstitium (peripheral connective tissue) and the peribronchovascular interstitium (axial connective tissue) as well as the more delicate intralobular septa.

What is alveolar lumen?

It takes place in the alveolar region (parenchyma) where air and blood are brought in close proximity over a large surface. Air reaches the alveolar lumen via a conducting airway tree. Blood flows in a capillary network embedded in inter-alveolar septa.

What is septal edema?

Overview. A septal hematoma is when blood collects in the area of your nose between your nostrils, called the septum. Usually some kind of injury disrupts the blood vessels and pulls the lining away from the cartilage, allowing blood to collect between the two.

What is the alveolar wall?

The wall of each alveolus, lined by thin flat cells (Type I cells) and containing numerous capillaries, is the site of gas exchange, which occurs by diffusion. … They are mobile scavengers that serve to engulf foreign particles in the lungs, such as dust, bacteria, carbon particles, and blood cells from injuries.

What is intra alveolar hemorrhage?

Alveolar hemorrhage is the rarest pulmonary complication of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome and is associated with high mortality risk. This life-threatening complication results from autoimmune damage to the alveolar blood vessels.

What are the 3 cells that make up the alveoli?

Each alveolus consists of three types of cell populations:

What are bronchioles?

Bronchioles are air passages inside the lungs that branch off like tree limbs from the bronchi—the two main air passages into which air flows from the trachea (windpipe) after being inhaled through the nose or mouth. The bronchioles deliver air to tiny sacs called alveoli where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.

What cells are in the alveolar epithelium?

The pulmonary alveolar epithelium is mainly composed of two types of epithelial cells: alveolar type I (AT1) and type II (AT2) cells. AT2 cells are smaller, cuboidal cells that are best known for their functions in synthesizing and secreting pulmonary surfactant.

What is the difference between type1 and type 2 alveolar cells?

The key difference between type 1 and type 2 pneumocytes is that type 1 pneumocytes are thin and flattened alveolar cells that are responsible for the gas exchange between alveoli and capillaries, while type 2 pneumocytes are cuboidal alveolar cells that are responsible for the secretion of pulmonary surfactants that …

Where are type 2 alveolar cells located?

Alveolar type II cells are usually cuboidal in shape and occupy only a small portion of the alveolar surface area, ∼7%. However, there are about twice as many AT2 cells as AT1 cells in the lung.

What type of cells make up the alveolar walls?

The alveolar epithelium comprises two main cell types: the alveolar type I and alveolar type II cell. The type I cell is a complex branched cell with multiple cytoplasmic plates that are greatly attenuated and relatively devoid of organelles; these plates represent the gas exchange surface in the alveolus.

What is the alveolar process?

The alveolar process, which is also called the alveolar bone, is the thick ridge of bone which contains the tooth sockets. The alveolar bone is located on the jaw bones which hold the teeth. In humans, these bones that contain the teeth are the maxilla and the mandible.

What is the difference between alveolus and alveoli?

They get together and form a large surface area around 70m2 in both lungs necessary for efficient gas exchange. The structure and arrangement is described above. What is the difference between Alveoli and Alveolus? The only difference between alveoli and alveolus is that alveolus is the singular word of alveoli.

What are alveoli made of?

The alveoli consist of an epithelial layer and an extracellular matrix surrounded by capillaries. In some alveolar walls there are pores between alveoli called pores of Kohn. Great alveolar cells secrete pulmonary surfactant to lower the surface tension of water to maintain the lungs elastic recoil.