Growth and aging of the normal human lung.
The lung grows primarily by alveolar multiplication, but alveoli also double in size from infancy to adult life. The time at which alveolar multiplication ceases is obscure. As the lung ages it loses alveolar surface area due to alteration in the internal geometry of the lung. Alveolar wall tissue is also lost, thought to reflect loss of capillary bed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development