alveolus

noun al·ve·o·lus \al-ˈvē-ə-ləs\

plural al·ve·o·li\-ˌlī, -(ˌ)lē\

Definition of ALVEOLUS

: a small cavity or pit: as

a : a socket in the jaw for a tooth

b : a small air-containing compartment of the lungs in which the bronchioles terminate and from which respiratory gases are exchanged with the pulmonary capillaries

c : an acinus of a compound gland

d : a cell of a honeycomb

: teethridge

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Origin of ALVEOLUS

New Latin, from Latin, diminutive of alveus cavity, hollow, from alvus belly, beehive; akin to Lithuanian aulys beehive, Greek aulos tube, flute

First Known Use: 1702

Medical Dictionary

alveolus

noun al·ve·o·lus \al-ˈvē-ə-ləs\

plural al·ve·o·li \-ˌlī, -(ˌ)lē\

Medical Definition of ALVEOLUS

: a small cavity or pit: as a : a socket in the jaw for a tooth b : any of the small thin-walled air-containing compartments of the lung that are typically arranged in saclike clusters into which an alveolar duct terminates and from which respiratory gases are exchanged with the pulmonary capillaries c : an acinus of a compound gland d : any of the pits in the wall of the stomach into which the glands open