Alveolar macrophages

Alveolar Macrophages

Alveolar macrophages (pronounced: al-vee-oh-lar mack-row-fay-jez) are a type of macrophage found in the alveoli of the lungs. They are part of the immune system and play a crucial role in the defense against respiratory infections.

Etymology

The term "alveolar" is derived from the Latin word "alveolus", meaning "small cavity". This refers to the small air sacs in the lungs where these macrophages are found. The term "macrophage" comes from the Greek words "makros", meaning "large", and "phagein", meaning "to eat". This refers to the cell's ability to engulf and destroy pathogens.

Function

Alveolar macrophages are responsible for engulfing and destroying pathogens that enter the lungs. They also play a role in the regulation of immune responses and inflammation in the lungs. They are capable of phagocytosis, a process in which they engulf and digest cellular debris, foreign substances, microbes, and cancer cells.

Related Terms

• Phagocytosis: The process by which a cell engulfs a solid particle to form an internal compartment known as a phagosome.
• Alveoli: Tiny air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
• Macrophage: A type of white blood cell that engulfs and digests cellular debris, foreign substances, microbes, and cancer cells in a process called phagocytosis.
• Immune System: The body's defense against infectious organisms and other invaders.

This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.