General Anatomy · Respiratory System · Hard
Pneumocyte
Meaning: A cell lining the air sacs of the lung; type I cells allow gas exchange and type II make surfactant.
In practice: Damage to each type II pneumocyte reduces surfactant production, making the lungs stiffer.
Word parts
- pneumo- means lung or air
- -cyte means a cell
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related general anatomy words.
Which word means: The large intestine — absorbs water and forms solid waste.
Answer: Colon
Which word means: Leaf-shaped flap of cartilage that covers the laryngeal inlet during swallowing.
Answer: Epiglottis
Words like pneumocyte come up in the daily game
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