alveolus

[ al-vee-uh-luhs ]

noun

, plural al·ve·o·li [al-, vee, -, uh, -lahy].

1. a little cavity, pit, or cell, as a cell of a honeycomb.
2. an air cell of the lungs, formed by the terminal dilation of tiny air passageways.
3. one of the terminal secretory units of a racemose gland.
4. the socket within the jawbone in which the root or roots of a tooth are set.

alveolus

/ ælˈvɪələs /

noun

1. any small pit, cavity, or saclike dilation, such as a honeycomb cell
2. any of the sockets in which the roots of the teeth are embedded
3. any of the tiny air sacs in the lungs at the end of the bronchioles, through which oxygen is taken into the blood

alveolus

/ ăl-vē′ə-ləs /

, Plural alveoli ăl-vē′ə-lī′

1. Any of the tiny air-filled sacs arranged in clusters in the lungs, in which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
2. Also called air sac

Word History and Origins

Origin of alveolus¹

1700–10; < Latin, equivalent to alve ( us ) concave vessel + -olus -ole ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of alveolus¹

C18: from Latin: a little hollow, diminutive of alveus

Example Sentences

Microscopic analysis of tissue from sick cows showed the virus infects cells in the alveoli, the millions of tiny milk-producing sacs in udders.

From Science Magazine

They found that changes in pressure affected the activity of two channels involved in sodium transport -- the epithelial sodium channel and the sodium-potassium ion pump in the cells of lung alveoli.

From Science Daily

"We have identified a key metabolic relationship between macrophages and alveoli that is exploited by tumor cells to support the cancer's metabolic demands -- now we just have to disrupt that exploitation."

From Science Daily

They drew inspiration from the architecture of the human lungs, which contain spherical "air sacs" called alveoli that enable a high interaction rate with blood within a short time.

From Science Daily

Within the lungs, oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide released via air sacs called alveoli.

From Science Daily