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A scanning electron microscope study of the microvasculature of the avian lung

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The microvasculature of the lung of the duck and pigeon was studied by scanning electron microscopy of vascular casts and critical point dried preparations of the gas exchange tissue.

  2. 2.

    The gas-exchange capillaries are discrete tubular vessels intimately associated with air capillaries in a three dimensional network.

  3. 3.

    The capillaries originate from arteries at the periphery of the parabronchus, and are collected by veins which run close to its luminal surface.

  4. 4.

    The capillary bed of 3–5 atria is drained by a single vein. It is suggested that the vein and its associated capillaries may form a controllable subunit of pulmonary perfusion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia

    Nigel H. West,  Owen S. Bamford & David R. Jones

Authors
  1. Nigel H. West
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  2. Owen S. Bamford
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  3. David R. Jones
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Additional information

The authors wish to thank Mr. L. Veto for his advice on S.E.M. techniques, and Dr. D.G. Smith for his criticism of the manuscript

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West, N.H., Bamford, O.S. & Jones, D.R. A scanning electron microscope study of the microvasculature of the avian lung. Cell Tissue Res. 176, 553–564 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231407

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231407

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