Pneumocyte Adaptations
- There are millions of alveoli in the lungs which collectively provide maximum surface area for gas exchange by diffusion
- In addition to this, the alveolar walls (also called alveolar epithelium) are only one cell thick which provides a short diffusion distance
- Two different cell types make up the tissue of the alveolar epithelium
Type I Pneumocytes
- Type I pneumocytes are extremely thin alveolar cells which make up the majority of the alveolar epithelium
- They are adapted to maximise the rate of gas exchange by providing a short diffusion distance
- The capillary walls are also only one cell thick which means there is usually less than 0.5μm between the air in the alveoli and the blood, this maximises the rate of diffusion
Structure and Adaptations of Type I Pneumocytes Diagram
The thin type I pneumocyte cells and the thin capillary walls provide a short diffusion distance to maximise gas exchange
Type II Pneumocytes
- Type II pneumocytes are rounded cells which possess many secretory vesicles (lamellar bodies) which secrete a solution that coats the epithelium of the alveoli
- They occupy a much smaller proportion of the alveolar epithelium than the type I pneumocytes, around 5%
- The solution released by type II pneumocytes contains pulmonary surfactant
- Pulmonary surfactant has hydrophobic tails and hydrophilic heads
- The molecules form a monolayer with the hydrophobic tails facing the alveolar air
- Pulmonary surfactant reduces surface tension, maintaining alveolar shape and preventing the alveoli sacs sticking together
- This prevents the alveoli, and therefore the lungs, from collapsing
- The solution also aids gas exchange
- The layer of moisture provided by the solution allows oxygen to dissolve before it diffuses into the blood
- Carbon dioxide diffuses from the moist surface before it is removed in exhalation
Arrangement of Pulmonary Surfactant Produced by Type II Pneumocytes Diagram
The type II pneumocyte cells in the alveoli produce a solution containing pulmonary surfactant which reduces surface tension
Type I and Type II Pneumocytes Diagram
The alveolar epithelium is made up of type I and type II pneumocyte cells