alveolus etymology

Etymology

The word "alveolus" comes from the Latin word "alveus," meaning "small trough or groove."

Meaning

An alveolus is a tiny, sac-like structure in the lungs where gas exchange occurs between the blood and the air.

Origin

The concept of the alveolus as a functional unit of the lung was first proposed by the Italian anatomist Marcello Malpighi in 1661. He described the alveoli as "small vesicles or bladders" filled with air.

Over time, the term "alveolus" came to refer specifically to the gas-exchanging units of the lungs. These structures are lined with a thin layer of cells that facilitate the diffusion of oxygen from the air into the blood and the release of carbon dioxide from the blood into the air.

alveolus relate terms

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