Alveolus

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/alveolus

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Alveolus?Approximately 70-100 square meters in adult humans
2. What is the general anatomical definition?A small, concave cavity or pit
3. What is the alveolar-capillary membrane thickness?About 0.5 micrometers
4. What are alveoli?Alveoli are tiny air pockets inside your lungs that look like millions of small balloons. They are where the breathing magic happens, letting you take in fresh air and get rid of old air.
5. How many alveoli do we have?A person has hundreds of millions of alveoli. Together they cover an area about the size of a tennis court, which helps a lot of air move in and out.

Pulmonary Alveoli: Microscopic air sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs.
Pulmonary Surfactant: A substance secreted by Type II pneumocytes that reduces surface tension in alveoli, preventing collapse.