Difference between pneumocyte type I and type II

Pneumocyte Type I
- responsible for gas exchange in the alveoli and cover a majority of the alveolar surface area
- large, thin and stretched

Pneumocyte Type II
- responsible for the production and secretion of surfactant (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine) which reduce surface tension
- granular and roughly cuboidal in shape
- can differentiate into type I