alveolar macrophage

macrophage /mac·ro·phage/ (mak´ro-fāj) any of the large, mononuclear, highly phagocytic cells derived from monocytes that occur in the walls of blood vessels (adventitial cells) and in loose connective tissue (histiocytes, phagocytic reticular cells). They are components of the reticuloendothelial system. Macrophages are usually immobile but become actively mobile when stimulated by inflammation; they also interact with lymphocytes to facilitate antibody production.

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alveolar macrophage  one of the rounded granular, mononuclear phagocytes within the alveoli of the lungs that ingest inhaled particulate matter.

armed macrophages  those capable of inducing cytotoxicity as a consequence of antigen-binding by cytophilic antibodies on their surfaces or by factors derived from T lymphocytes.

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alveolar macrophage

n.

A vigorously phagocytic macrophage on the epithelial surface of lung alveoli that ingests carbon and other inhaled particulate matter. Also called coniophage, dust cell.

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alveolar macrophage,

a cell of the reticuloendothelial system in the lungs that engulfs and digests foreign substances inhaled into the alveoli.

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macrophage (mak´rfāj),

n any phagocytic cell of the reticuloendothelial system including specialized Kupffer's cells in the liver and spleen, and histiocytes in loose connective tissue. See also histiocyte and monocyte.

macrophage, alveolar,

n a dust cell, coniophage, a vigorously phagocytic macrophage on the epithelial surface of lung alveoli where it ingests inhaled particulate matter.

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alveolar macrophage

Physiology A free mononuclear cell of the lower respiratory tract, which has a high phagocytic capacity, and is responsible for clearing inhaled particles and lung surfactant; AMs are transiently attached by pseudopodia to the surface of alveolar epithelium; presence of AMs in sputum submitted for cytologic evaluation are markers of specimen adequacy; AMs are generally submerged in a film of phospholipids, and thus form part of the surface lining of the aveoli Cf Dust cell, Dust macule.