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Lungs - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 07:48, 13 August 2008
, 07:48, 13 August 2008→Structure
[[Image:Routeofairthroughrespiratorysystem.jpg|right|thumb|200px|'''Schematic Diagram showing the route air takes through the respiratory system''']]
[[Image:Routeofairthroughrespiratorysystem.jpg|right|thumb|200px|'''Schematic Diagram showing the route air takes through the respiratory system''']]
**Alveolar Ducts: These have alveoli which open on all of it's sides, they have no 'walls' as such. Openings to individual alveoli are guarded by smooth muscle.
**Alveolar Sacs: These are rotunda-like areas on the end of the alveolar ducts, usually there are clusters of these at the end of each duct.
**Alveoli: These are minute, polygonal chambers, whose diameter changes with the processes of inspiration and expiration, and varies by species. The wall of the alveoli is extremely thin, consisting of 2 irregular layers of epithelial sheets, 'sandwiching' a network of capillaries. Thus the ''Blood-Gas Barrier'' is just a single basal lamina - ideal for gaseous exchange.
The alveolar interstitium is formed from connective tissue fibres and cells, which include collagen fibrils and elastin fibres.
==Function==
==Function==