Type II pneumocytes are cuboidal in shape, distinguishing them from the flatter, squamous type I pneumocytes. They are characterized by their large, round nuclei and prominent nucleoli. These cells contain numerous organelles, including abundant mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and a well-developed Golgi apparatus. One of the most distinctive features of type II pneumocytes is the presence of lamellar bodies, which store surfactant.
