pneumocyte type-2 (alveolar cell type 2)
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Introduction
Type 2 pneumocytes have an irregular cuboidal shape. The contain characteristic cytoplasmic structures 0.1-0.2 um in diameter termed cytosomes which look like vacuoles under the light microscope, but appear as osmiophilic bodies with internal concentric lamellae in electron micrographs. Type 2 pneumocytes secrete pulmonary surfactant onto the alveolar surface.