Term Name: | type I pneumocyte |
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Synonyms: | AT1, ATI, lung type 1 cells, membranous pneumocytes, pulmonary alveolar type I cell, small alveolar cells, squamous alveolar cell, squamous alveolar lining cell, type 1 alveolar epithelial cells, type 1 pneumocyte, type I alveolar cells, type I alveolar epithelial cells |
Definition: | A type I pneumocyte is a flattened, branched pneumocyte that covers more than 98% of the alveolar surface. This large cell has thin (50-100 nm) cytoplasmic extensions to form the air-blood barrier essential for normal gas exchange. |
Ontology: | Cell Ontology [CL:0002062] |