Pneumocytes
| Alveolar cells | |
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| Identifiers | |
| Code | TH H3.05.02.0.0029 |
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Anatomical terminology
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Alveolar cells, or pneumocytes, are cells lining the alveoli of the lungs. Two types of alveolar cell exist: type I alveolar cells and type II alveolar cells.
Type I alveolar cells are squamous (giving more surface area to each cell) and cover approximately 90–95% of the alveolar surface. Type I cells are involved in the process of gas exchange between the alveoli and blood. These cells are extremely thin (sometimes only 25 nm) – the electron microscope was needed to prove that all alveoli are covered with an epithelial lining. These cells need to be so thin to be readily permeable for enabling an easy gas exchange between the alveoli and the blood.
Organelles of type I alveolar cells such as the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and are clustered around the nucleus leaving large areas of free cytoplasm. This reduces the thickness of the cell, thereby reducing the thickness of the blood-air barrier. The cytoplasm in the thin portion contains pinocytotic vesicles which may play a role in the removal of small particulate contaminants from the outer surface. In addition to desmosomes, all type I alveolar cells have occluding junctions that prevent the leakage of tissue fluid into the alveolar air space.
Type I pneumocytes are unable to replicate and are susceptible to toxic insults. In the event of damage, type II cells can proliferate and differentiate into type I cells to compensate.
Type II alveolar cells cover a small fraction of the alveolar surface area. Their function is of major importance in the secretion of pulmonary surfactant, which decreases the surface tension within the alveoli. They are also capable of cellular division, giving rise to more type I alveolar cells when the lung tissue is damaged. These cells are granular and roughly cuboidal. Type II alveolar cells are typically found at the blood-air barrier. Although they only comprise <5% of the alveolar surface, they are relatively numerous (60% of alveolar epithelial cells).
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