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Extracellular Components of the Pulmonary Alveolar Wall
Frank N. Low, PhD
Arch Intern Med. 1971;127(5):847-852.
Abstract
The fine structure of the pulmonary alveolar wall reveals extracellular components that are typical expressions of connective tissues. Boundary (basement) membranes (basal laminae) are found in close association with both pulmonary epithelium and capillary endothelium. In them a feltwork of fine primary fibrils (30 to 50 Angstroms in diameter) supports a finely granular amorphous material. Where the blood-air barrier is thinnest, a single boundary membrane is located between epithelium and endothelium. Between capillaries the tissue space contains reticular fibers and elastic fibers. Reticular fibers are composed of numerous, small unit collagen fibrils which average 200 to 300 A in diameter and are arranged in roughly parallel array. Elastic fibers are small, usually being less than 0.5µ in diameter. They possess a homogeneous core which is surrounded peripherally by hollow microfibrils. Occasional fibroblasts are present.
Author Affiliations
Grand Forks, ND
From the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Footnotes
Received for publication Oct 21, 1970; accepted Jan 27, 1971.
Read in part before the Tenth Annual Hanford Biology Symposium on Pollution and Lung Biochemistry, Richland, Wash, June 3, 1970, jointly sporsored by the Battelle Memorial Institute-Pacific Northwest Laboratories, National Air Pollution Control Administration, National Institute of Environmental Sciences, and the US Atomic Energy Commission.
Reprint requests to Anatomy Department, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58201 (Dr. Low).
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