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500 Million Alveoli from 30,000 Feet: A Brief Primer on Lung Anatomy

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Lung Innate Immunity and Inflammation

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1809))

Abstract

The lungs are a complex organ that fulfill multiple life-sustaining roles including transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the ambient environment and the bloodstream, host defense, and immune homeostasis. As in any biological system, an understanding of the underlying anatomy is prerequisite for successful experimental design and appropriate interpretation of data, regardless of the precise experimental model or procedure in use. This chapter provides an overview of human lung anatomy focused on the airways, the ultrastructure or parenchyma of the lung, the pulmonary vasculature, the innervation of the lungs, and the pulmonary lymphatic system. We will also discuss notable anatomic differences between mouse and human lungs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA

    William McKleroy & Kenneth Lyn-Kew

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    William McKleroy

Authors
  1. William McKleroy
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  2. Kenneth Lyn-Kew
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenneth Lyn-Kew .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology and Microbiology University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Research and Center for Genes Environment and Health, National Jewish Health Denver, CO, USA, Aurora,, Colorado, USA

    Scott Alper

  2. Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine Department of Medicine University of Colorado Denver, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Department of Medicine National Jewish Health Denver, CO, USA, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    William J. Janssen

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McKleroy, W., Lyn-Kew, K. (2018). 500 Million Alveoli from 30,000 Feet: A Brief Primer on Lung Anatomy. In: Alper, S., Janssen, W. (eds) Lung Innate Immunity and Inflammation. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1809. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8570-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8570-8_1

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8569-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8570-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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