What is the primary purpose of surfactant in the alveoli?

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Question: What is the primary purpose of surfactant in the alveoli?

Options:

Correct Answer: To prevent alveolar collapse

Solution:

Surfactant reduces surface tension in the alveoli, preventing their collapse and aiding in gas exchange.

What is the primary purpose of surfactant in the alveoli?

What is the primary purpose of surfactant in the alveoli?

Step 1: Understand what alveoli are. Alveoli are tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange happens.
Step 2: Learn about surface tension. Surface tension is a force that makes the surface of a liquid behave like a stretched elastic sheet.
Step 3: Know what surfactant is. Surfactant is a substance that reduces surface tension.
Step 4: Recognize the role of surfactant in alveoli. Surfactant lowers the surface tension in the alveoli.
Step 5: Understand the importance of reducing surface tension. By reducing surface tension, surfactant prevents the alveoli from collapsing.
Step 6: Connect it to gas exchange. When alveoli stay open, they can effectively exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.

No concepts available.