What is the difference between Type 1 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 …
What kind of cells line alveoli?
Alveolar epithelial cells
Alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) line the small, spongy sacs called alveoli that are found throughout the lung.
What are alveoli type 2 cells?
Type II cells are defenders of the alveoli by secreting surfactant, keeping the alveolar space relatively free from fluid, serving as progenitor cells to repopulate the epithelium after injury, and providing important components of the innate immune system.
What is type 1 and type 2 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. On the other hand, the type II cell acts as the “caretaker” of the alveolar compartment.
Are Type 1 alveolar cells simple squamous?
Alveolar Epithelial Cells Most of the alveolar surface is covered by simple squamous cells known as type I pneumocytes (Figure 1-9). These cells have a small nucleus with highly branched cytoplasmic processes covering 4000 to 5000 µm2.
What are type 1 cells?
Type I cells are the larger of the two cell types; they are thin, flat epithelial lining cells (membranous pneumocytes), that form the structure of the alveoli. They are squamous (giving more surface area to each cell) and have long cytoplasmic extensions that cover more than 95% of the alveolar surface.
What are type 1 and type 2 cells?
What is the difference between Type 1 diabetes and type2?
People with type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin. You can think of it as not having a key. People with type 2 diabetes don’t respond to insulin as well as they should and later in the disease often don’t make enough insulin. You can think of it as having a broken key.
What is structural characteristic of the alveoli?
Structure Alveoli are tiny balloon shaped structures and are the smallest passageway in the respiratory system. The alveoli are only one cell thick, allowing the relatively easy passage of oxygen and carbon dioxide (CO2) between the alveoli and blood vessels called capillaries. One cubic millimeter of lung tissue contains around 170 alveoli.
Where are alveoli found?
Alveoli are the functional units of the lungs that permit gas exchange between the air in the lungs and the blood in the capillaries of the lungs. Alveoli are found in small clusters called alveolar sacs at the end of the terminal bronchiole.
What are the features of the alveoli?
Features of the alveoli. The alveoli are adapted to make gas exchange in lungs happen easily and efficiently. Here are some features of the alveoli that allow this: they give the lungs a really big surface area. they have moist, thin walls (just one cell thick) they have a lot of tiny blood vessels called capillaries.