What is the respiratory membrane made of?
1) Squamous epithelium
- Simple squamous epithelium lines the interior of the alveoli.
- The epithelium is very thin, which allows for the diffusion of gases between the alveoli and the blood.
2) Endothelium
- The endothelium lines the interior of the pulmonary capillaries.
- The endothelium is also very thin, which allows for the diffusion of gases between the alveoli and the blood.
3) Basement membrane
- The basement membrane is located between the squamous epithelium and the endothelium.
- The basement membrane is a thin layer of connective tissue that provides support and structure for the respiratory membrane.