The microanatomy of the alveolar duct of the human lung imaged by confocal microscopy and visualised with computer-based 3D reconstruction.
The most widely accepted model of human lung alveolar duct systems is that they are constructed from central helical fibres between the turns of which lie alveolar opening. Experimental difficulties of handling and sectioning lung tissue have made it difficult to confirm this. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was therefore used to generate optical serial sections of the lung that were reconstructed in three dimensions and displayed using volume rendering techniques. From images of the reconstructions, a new structure is proposed in which alveolar ducts consist of collections of connected oval, twisted loop structures with eccentric openings.
Cookson
M J
MJ
Hill Centre, London Hospital Medical College, U.K.
Davies
C J
CJ
Entwistle
A
A
Whimster
W F
WF
D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003626:Data Display; D004549:Elastin / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007834:Lasers; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D008867:Microtomy; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin