Chapter 25, Problem 6CR

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The significance of alveolar type II cells in the maintenance of inflation of lungs.

Introduction:

The respiratory bronchioles and alveolar ducts contain small saccular outpocketings called alveoli. It has a thin wall which is specialized to promote the diffusion of gases between the alveolus and the blood in the pulmonary capillaries. Each lung contains about 300 to 400 million alveoli. The two types of cells that form the alveolar wall are alveolar type I cell and alveolar type II cell.