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Morphological Development of The Lung: A Review
Author(s) -
ALCORN D. G.,
ALEXANDER I. G. S.,
MALONEY J. E.,
RITCHIE B. C.,
WALKER A. M.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1974.tb02919.x
Subject(s) - mesenchyme , lung , gestation , pulmonary surfactant , medicine , pathology , epithelium , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , pregnancy , biology , biochemistry , genetics
SYNOPSIS This literature review compares the developing lung structure of several mammalian species and identifies those features which are common at birth. Potential air‐conducting structures are formed early in gestation with the bronchial tree being developed well before the alveoli and gas exchanging structures. The distal pulmonary epithelium differentiates into alveolar type I and II cells whilst capillaries proliferate in the pulmonary mesenchyme. Late in gestation structures similar in shape to adult alveoli form and potential gas exchanging areas are detectable. Cell inclusions associated with the production of pulmonary surfactant develop during the latter part of gestation and are abundant at term. Whilst the relative rates of development of these pulmonary structures vary between species, the lung has a common fundamental architecture at birth.