alveolus

[ al-vee-uh-luhs ]

noun

, plural al·ve·o·li [al-, vee, -, uh, -lahy].

1. a little cavity, pit, or cell, as a cell of a honeycomb.
2. an air cell of the lungs, formed by the terminal dilation of tiny air passageways.
3. one of the terminal secretory units of a racemose gland.
4. the socket within the jawbone in which the root or roots of a tooth are set.

alveolus

/ ælˈvɪələs /

noun

1. any small pit, cavity, or saclike dilation, such as a honeycomb cell
2. any of the sockets in which the roots of the teeth are embedded
3. any of the tiny air sacs in the lungs at the end of the bronchioles, through which oxygen is taken into the blood

alveolus

/ ăl-vē′ə-ləs /

, Plural alveoli ăl-vē′ə-lī′

1. Any of the tiny air-filled sacs arranged in clusters in the lungs, in which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
2. Also called air sac

Word History and Origins

Origin of alveolus¹

1700–10; < Latin, equivalent to alve ( us ) concave vessel + -olus -ole ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of alveolus¹

C18: from Latin: a little hollow, diminutive of alveus

Example Sentences

Beside them, lining the ducts and alveoli, are smooth, muscle-like myoepithelial cells.

From MIT Technology Review

A breath of these microscopic particles can send them all the way to the alveoli, the tiny sacs where the lungs and the blood swap oxygen and carbon dioxide.

From Science News

In the Atlantic City specimen the axis of the tooth where it emerges from the alveolus is 91 mm.

From Project Gutenberg

The alveolus lies entirely behind the symphysis, its anterior end being 160 mm.

From Project Gutenberg

When extracted from the alveolus, the whole tooth is found to be concave internally and convex externally.

From Project Gutenberg

When in the natural position, these teeth protrude about 33 mm., or a little more than one-third their height, above the alveolus.

From Project Gutenberg

The margins of the cleft in the lip are also attached to the alveolus by firm reflections of the mucous membrane.

From Project Gutenberg