Pulmonary surfactant functions

• Lowers surface tension at air-liquid interface

• Protects patency of small airways

• Prevents movement of fluid into the alveolus

• Enhances mucous clearance

• Stimulates lung host defence system

Diapositiva precedente

Diapositiva successiva

Torna alla prima diaposiva

Visualizza versione grafica

Pulmonary surfactant is a mixture of lipids and specific proteins lining the alveoli and the terminal bronchioles. Surfactant lipids generate a monolayer at the air-liquid interface, which lowers alveolar surface tension to value < 10 mN/m at end-expiration, keeping intra-alveolar pressures relatively consistent throughout the lung, preventing the collapse of smaller bronchioles and alveoli.