Pulmonary surfactant

Question 1

What is surfactant?

Answer 1

mixture of phospholipids, carbohydrates and proteins

Question 2

What cells secrete surfactant

Answer 2

type 2 pneumocytes.

Question 3

What is the main functioning component of surfactant and what is its role?

Answer 3

dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC)
=> reduces alveolar surface tension

Question 4

As alveoli decrease in size, surfactant concentration is increased. TRUE/FALSE?

Answer 4

TRUE => helping prevent the alveoli from collapsing

Question 5

Surfactant reduces the muscular force needed to expand the lungs (i.e. decreases the work of breathing). TRUE/FALSE?

Answer 5

TRUE

Question 6

How does surfactant prevent the alveoli from collapsing at the end of each expiration?

Answer 6

lowers the elastic recoil at low lung volumes