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Interdependent alveoli with shared alveolar walls represented as hexagons. This homogeneous anatomical design assists in stabilizing alveoli preventing collapse during expiration and overdistension during inspiration, since there is no pressure (arrows) gradient between alveoli (opposing arrows of equal force). Only ~2% change in alveolar area is measured between inspiration (Supplemental Animation S1A) and expiration (Supplemental Animation S1B) using in vivo microscopy.
