alveoli
Tiny breath chambers
Alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange between air and blood.
Each lung contains millions of these thin-walled structures, clustered like grapes at the ends of the smallest airways.
The singular is alveolus.
The term also applies to similar small cavities elsewhere in the body, such as the sockets holding teeth.
Circulation of fresh air
- inhalationTaking breath in
- exhalationBreathing out air
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
- expansionIncrease in scope
contraction · compliance · elasticity · recoil · inflation · deflation · pressure · volume
Bag-like body structures
- pulmonaryOf the lungs
- bronchiolesSmallest respiratory passages
- surfactantSurface tension lowering compound
- membraneThin tissue sheet
epithelium · endothelium · septum · lobule · clusters · elastic · parenchyma · microscopic
Passive molecular spreading
- capillariesTiniest blood vessels
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- hemoglobinErythrocyte's oxygen-binding protein
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
saturation · arterial · venous · perfusion · gradient · equilibrium · transfer · uptake
Infected, inflamed lung tissue
- emphysemaDamaged lung air sacs
- edemaPathological tissue puffiness
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- collapseSudden structural failure
damage · scarring · macrophages · infection · consolidation · infiltrate · lesion · tuberculosis
Lung airflow assessment
- pulmonologyRespiratory medicine specialty
- biopsyTissue sample for diagnosis
- imagingProducing visual representations
- auscultationMedical listening examination
bronchoscopy · ventilator · intubation · diagnosis · treatment · lavage · sputum
ventilation
Circulation of fresh air
- inhalationTaking breath in
- exhalationBreathing out air
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
expansion · contraction · compliance · elasticity · recoil · inflation · deflation · pressure · volume · capacity
sacs
Bag-like body structures
- pulmonaryOf the lungs
- bronchiolesSmallest respiratory passages
- surfactantSurface tension lowering compound
membrane · epithelium · endothelium · septum · lobule · clusters · elastic · parenchyma · microscopic
diffusion
Passive molecular spreading
- capillariesTiniest blood vessels
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- hemoglobinErythrocyte's oxygen-binding protein
permeability · saturation · arterial · venous · perfusion · gradient · equilibrium · transfer · uptake · release
pneumonia
Infected, inflamed lung tissue
- emphysemaDamaged lung air sacs
- edemaPathological tissue puffiness
- inflammationProtective tissue response
collapse · damage · scarring · macrophages · infection · consolidation · infiltrate · lesion · tuberculosis · silicosis
spirometry
Lung airflow assessment
- pulmonologyRespiratory medicine specialty
- biopsyTissue sample for diagnosis
- imagingProducing visual representations
auscultation · bronchoscopy · ventilator · intubation · diagnosis · treatment · lavage · sputum
alveolitrachea
Respiratory airway tube
nasal passages · dead space · bronchi · pharynx · larynx
- alveolar ventilationAir reaching respiratory surfaces