What effect does surfactant deficiency have on the lungs?

What effect does surfactant deficiency have on the lungs?

• A. Increases lung capacity
• B. Prevents efficient gas exchange
• C. Aids in lung inflation
• D. Improves airflow

Answer: (B)

Surfactant deficiency has a significant impact on lung function, primarily by preventing efficient gas exchange. Surfactant is a substance composed mainly of lipids and proteins produced by alveolar cells in the lungs. Its essential role is to reduce surface tension in the alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs. By decreasing surface tension, surfactant helps keep the alveoli open, allowing them to expand easily during inhalation and preventing their collapse during exhalation. When surfactant levels are reduced, the surface tension within the alveoli increases, making it more difficult for them to inflate properly. This leads to inadequate ventilation of the alveoli and results in impaired gas exchange because oxygen cannot effectively move from the air in the alveoli into the blood, and carbon dioxide cannot efficiently move from the blood into the alveoli for exhalation. Consequently, this deficiency can lead to conditions like neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and can severely compromise lung function. The other options, while relevant to lung function, do not accurately describe the specific impact of surfactant deficiency. For instance, surfactant deficiency does not increase lung capacity, aid in lung inflation, or improve airflow, but rather it hinders these processes by disrupting normal lung mechanics

Surfactant deficiency has a significant impact on lung function, primarily by preventing efficient gas exchange. Surfactant is a substance composed mainly of lipids and proteins produced by alveolar cells in the lungs. Its essential role is to reduce surface tension in the alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs. By decreasing surface tension, surfactant helps keep the alveoli open, allowing them to expand easily during inhalation and preventing their collapse during exhalation.

When surfactant levels are reduced, the surface tension within the alveoli increases, making it more difficult for them to inflate properly. This leads to inadequate ventilation of the alveoli and results in impaired gas exchange because oxygen cannot effectively move from the air in the alveoli into the blood, and carbon dioxide cannot efficiently move from the blood into the alveoli for exhalation. Consequently, this deficiency can lead to conditions like neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and can severely compromise lung function.

The other options, while relevant to lung function, do not accurately describe the specific impact of surfactant deficiency. For instance, surfactant deficiency does not increase lung capacity, aid in lung inflation, or improve airflow, but rather it hinders these processes by disrupting normal lung mechanics