18.1 Phases of lung development

• Introduction
  
• Embryonic phase
  
• Pseudoglandular phase
  
• Canalicular phase
  
• Saccular phase
  
• Alveolar phase
  
• Classification in the adult lung

Canalicular phase

In the classical description of lung development, in this phase the canaliculi branch out of the terminal bronchioli. The canaliculi compose the proper respiratory part of the lungs, the pulmonary parenchyma. All of the air spaces that derive from a terminal bronchiolus form an acinus. Each one comprises respiratory bronchioli and the alveolar ducts and later the alveolar sacculi. The chief characteristic of this canalicular phase is the alteration of the epithelium and the surrounding mesenchyma. Along the acinus, which develops from the terminal bronchiolus, an invasion of capillaries into the mesenchyma occurs. The capillaries surround the acini and thus form the foundation for the later exchange of gases. The lumen of the tubules becomes wider and a part of the epithelial cells get to be flatter. From the cubic type II pneumocytes develop the flattened type I pneumocytes.

Fig. 6
The type I pneumocytes differentiate out of the type II pneumocytes. The capillaries approach the walls of the acini.

At the end of this canalicular phase which is the beginning of the saccular phase (ca. 25 weeks) - a large part of the amniotic fluid is produced by the lung epithelium. From this time on, the maturity of the lungs can be measured clinically based on the activity of the type II pneumocytes, which begin to produce the surfactant. The ratio of lecithin to sphingomyelin in the amniotic fluid, which increases with fetal age is determined. I
In this stage developmental damage already affects the gas-exchange components and result in structural alterations of the later pulmonary parenchyma.