[Histological structure of the distal segment of the respiratory tract]

The respiratory system consists of morphologically and functionally distinct sub-divisions-the air-conditioning part and respiratory portion is were O2 and CO2 exchange actually occurs across the delicate, very thin walls of the pulmonary alveoli. The final bifurcation of bronchiole yields terminal bronchiole. The epithelium is gradually reduced from ciliated columnar in the larger bronchioles to ciliated or non-ciliated low cuboidal in the terminal segment. Here non-ciliated Clara cells are plentiful. Only under EM one can clearly identify the lining cells of the alveoli: type I are squamous pneumocytes, type II are large granular alveolar cells and macrophages (dust cells). The hallmarks of pneumocytes type II are the numerous osmiophilic, lamellated inclusion bodies. In TEM there is evidence connecting these bodies with the production of stabilizing surface active material, which prevents the collapse of the alveoli; colled surfactant, different from that of the Clara cells.