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Asked by: Euquerio Iriburieta
medical health lung and respiratory healthWhat is surfactant in respiratory system?
Last Updated: 1st March, 2020
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Similarly, you may ask, what is the purpose of surfactant in the respiratory system?
Introduction. Pulmonary surfactant is a mixture of lipids and proteins which is secreted into the alveolar space by epithelial type II cells. The main function of surfactant is to lower the surface tension at the air/liquid interface within the alveoli of the lung.
Furthermore, what is surfactant and how does it work? Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension (or interfacial tension) between two liquids, between a gas and a liquid, or between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.
Likewise, people ask, how surfactant works in the lungs?
Pulmonary surfactant is produced by cells within the lungs and decreases surface tension by breaking bonds between water molecules. Therefore, pulmonary surfactant allows the lungs to expand so we can breathe.
What is the main active ingredient in lung surfactants?
dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine