Pulmonary Surfactant Function in Alveoli and Conducting Airways

Surface tension plays a very important role in aeration of the neonate's lungs. Pulmonary surfactant, which is inadequate in the premature infant, modifies surface tension during the act of breathing and is necessary for maintenance of alveolar stability. These facts led to the development of t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Goran Enhorning
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 1996-01-01
Series:Canadian Respiratory Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1996/364751
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spelling doaj-c14b5d22761644e398bf5cea67a7c3612021-07-02T06:40:58ZengHindawi LimitedCanadian Respiratory Journal1198-22411996-01-0131212710.1155/1996/364751Pulmonary Surfactant Function in Alveoli and Conducting AirwaysGoran EnhorningSurface tension plays a very important role in aeration of the neonate's lungs. Pulmonary surfactant, which is inadequate in the premature infant, modifies surface tension during the act of breathing and is necessary for maintenance of alveolar stability. These facts led to the development of the concept that it might be possible to treat the premature infant by supplementing the infant's inadequate surfactant supply. In addition to maintaining alveolar stability, pulmonary surfactant might also be of vital importance for maintenance of small airway patency. Various conditions, most importantly asthma, might be the reason for a surfactant dysfunction to develop. This in turn might cause airway resistance to increase.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1996/364751
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Goran Enhorning
spellingShingle Goran Enhorning
Pulmonary Surfactant Function in Alveoli and Conducting Airways
Canadian Respiratory Journal
author_facet Goran Enhorning
author_sort Goran Enhorning
title Pulmonary Surfactant Function in Alveoli and Conducting Airways
title_short Pulmonary Surfactant Function in Alveoli and Conducting Airways
title_full Pulmonary Surfactant Function in Alveoli and Conducting Airways
title_fullStr Pulmonary Surfactant Function in Alveoli and Conducting Airways
title_full_unstemmed Pulmonary Surfactant Function in Alveoli and Conducting Airways
title_sort pulmonary surfactant function in alveoli and conducting airways
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Canadian Respiratory Journal
issn 1198-2241
publishDate 1996-01-01
description Surface tension plays a very important role in aeration of the neonate's lungs. Pulmonary surfactant, which is inadequate in the premature infant, modifies surface tension during the act of breathing and is necessary for maintenance of alveolar stability. These facts led to the development of the concept that it might be possible to treat the premature infant by supplementing the infant's inadequate surfactant supply. In addition to maintaining alveolar stability, pulmonary surfactant might also be of vital importance for maintenance of small airway patency. Various conditions, most importantly asthma, might be the reason for a surfactant dysfunction to develop. This in turn might cause airway resistance to increase.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1996/364751
work_keys_str_mv AT goranenhorning pulmonarysurfactantfunctioninalveoliandconductingairways
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