alveolus

/ælˈviːələs/
noun
  1. One of the many tiny air sacs in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.
    • Oxygen passes from the alveolus into the bloodstream.
    • Smoking can damage the walls of the alveoli in your lungs.
    • Each alveolus is surrounded by tiny blood vessels.
  2. A small cavity or pit in a body, such as the socket for a tooth.
    • Each tooth sits firmly in its own alveolus in the jawbone.
    • The dentist examined the alveolus where the tooth had been pulled.
    • Inflammation of the alveolus can cause pain after an extraction.
Synonyms
What does "alveolus" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean