Pulmonary acinus
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Silverstone L, Vadera S, et al. Pulmonary acinus. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 28 Feb 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-8766
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rID:
8766
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Liz Silverstone had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Liz Silverstone's current disclosures
Revisions:
7 times, by
6 contributors -
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Systems:
Sections:
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Synonyms:
- Pulmonary acini
- Acini of the lung
The pulmonary acinus is an anatomical unit of lung supplied by a first order respiratory bronchiole, 4-8 mm in diameter. Each secondary pulmonary lobule usually contains 3-25 acini, and adjacent acini are separated by incomplete intralobular septa.
Clinical importance
The component respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts and alveoli take part in gas exchange 2.
Related pathology
In disease, the acini may be filled with fluid and cells and may appear as small ill-defined “air space nodules”.
See also
References
- 1. Computed Tomography of the Lung: A Pattern Approach. J.A. Verschakelen, W. De Wever, A.L. Baert (Foreword). Springer ISBN:3540261877 (find it at amazon.com)
- 2. Bankier A, MacMahon H, Colby T et al. Fleischner Society: Glossary of Terms for Thoracic Imaging. Radiology. 2024;310(2):e232558. doi:10.1148/radiol.232558 - Pubmed
- 3. Webb W. Thin-Section CT of the Secondary Pulmonary Lobule: Anatomy and the Image—The 2004 Fleischner Lecture. Radiology. 2006;239(2):322-38. doi:10.1148/radiol.2392041968 - Pubmed
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