alveolus

alveolus /al·ve·o·lus/ (al-ve´o-lus) pl. alve´oli   [L.] a small saclike dilatation; see also acinus.

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dental alveolus  one of the cavities or sockets of the jaw, in which the roots of the teeth are embedded.

pulmonary alveoli  small outpocketings of the alveolar ducts and sacs and terminal bronchioles through whose walls the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen takes place between the alveolar air and capillary blood.

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al·ve·o·lus (l-v-ls)

n. pl. al·ve·o·li (-l)

A small angular cavity or pit, such as a tooth socket or an air sac.

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Alveolus (plural alveoli)

The terminal air sacs of the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Mentioned in: Surfactant

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alveolus

[alvē′ələs] pl. alveoli

Etymology: L, alveolus, little hollow

1 a small outpouching along the walls of the alveolar sacs through which gas exchange between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood takes place. Also called acinus, pulmonary alveolus.

2 a tooth socket. See also dental alveolus. alveolar, adj.

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alveolus (alvē´lus),

n 1. an air sac of the lungs formed by terminal dilations of the bronchioles.
n 2. the socket in the bone in which a tooth is attached by means of the periodontal ligament.

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alveolus

pl. alveoli.

1. a small cavity.

2. one of the thousands of tiny sacs borne on the terminal parts of the bronchial tree.

3. a tooth socket.

4. the dilated saclike part of the secretory unit of an alveolar gland such as a lactating mammary gland.

See also alveolar.

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mammary alveolus

because its epithelia produce milk the alveolus is the basic functioning unit of the lactating mammary gland.