Alveoli: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Alveoli are the exchange surface in the lungs, where oxygen from inhaled air moves into the blood, and carbon dioxide moves out of [[Capillary|capillaries]] into the air. Alveoli are capillary-rich, thin-walled sacs, that create an optimum surface for gas exchange. There are two types of alveolar cell, type I and type II. Type I alveolar cells are for gas exchange, type II cells synthesise and secrete [[Surfactant|surfactant]]. In type I cells the alveolar [[Epithelial cells|epithelium]] and capillary epithelium are fused by a basement membrane. | Alveoli are the exchange surface in the lungs, where oxygen from inhaled air moves into the blood, and carbon dioxide moves out of [[Capillary|capillaries]] into the air. Alveoli are capillary-rich, thin-walled sacs, that create an optimum surface for gas exchange. There are two types of alveolar cell, type I and type II. Type I alveolar cells are for gas exchange, type II cells synthesise and secrete [[Surfactant|surfactant]]. In type I cells the alveolar [[Epithelial cells|epithelium]] and capillary epithelium are fused by a basement membrane. <ref>Silverthorn D (2010). Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach. 5th ed. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings. 570-575</ref> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
=== Reference === | === Reference === | ||
<references /> | |||
Revision as of 16:58, 21 October 2012
Alveoli are the exchange surface in the lungs, where oxygen from inhaled air moves into the blood, and carbon dioxide moves out of capillaries into the air. Alveoli are capillary-rich, thin-walled sacs, that create an optimum surface for gas exchange. There are two types of alveolar cell, type I and type II. Type I alveolar cells are for gas exchange, type II cells synthesise and secrete surfactant. In type I cells the alveolar epithelium and capillary epithelium are fused by a basement membrane. [1]
Reference
- ↑ Silverthorn D (2010). Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach. 5th ed. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings. 570-575