A surfactant is a complexmixture of proteins, phosolipids and ions and plays a big role in decreasing the surface tension of water in the alveolar surface. If surfactant is not present or is present but in less than normal quantities, then the attraction of water molecules for each other (and hence the surface tension) increases. And increased surface tension leads to an increased pressure in the alveoli that cna lead to their collaspe. The surface tension of normal fluids that line the alveoli with normal amounts of surfactant is 5-30 dyne/cm. The surface tension of normal fluids that line the alveoli without surfactant is 50 dyne/cm. Surface tensionis relate to P as follows: where? is the surfacetension and r is the radius P= 20/r 1.) If an average sized alveolus hasa radius of 100 ?m, what is the surface tension pressure for an adult when surfactant is present? 2.) What is the pressure of an adultwith the average-sized alveoli but WITHOUT surfactant? 3.) Some premature babies havealveoli with a radii of one-quarter the size of normalbabies. If surfactant Isn't present, estimate thesurface-tension pressure for a premature baby.

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A surfactant is a complexmixture of proteins, phosolipids and ions and plays a big role in decreasing
the surface tension of water in the alveolar surface. If surfactant is not present or is present but in less
than normal quantities, then the attraction of water molecules for each other (and hence the surface
tension) increases. And increased surface tension leads to an increased pressure in the alveoli that cna
lead to their collaspe. The surface tension of normal fluids that line the alveoli with normal amounts of
surfactant is 5-30 dyne/cm. The surface tension of normal fluids that line the alveoli without surfactant
is 50 dyne/cm. Surface tensionis relate to P as follows: where? is the surfacetension and r is the radius.
P=
20/r
1.) If an average sized alveolus hasa radius of 100?m, what is the surface tension pressure for an adult
when surfactant is present?
2.) What is the pressure of an adultwith the average-sized alveoli but WITHOUT surfactant?
3.) Some premature babies havealveoli with a radii of one-quarter the size of normalbabies. If
surfactant Isn't present, estimate thesurface-tension pressure for a premature baby.
Transcribed Image Text:A surfactant is a complexmixture of proteins, phosolipids and ions and plays a big role in decreasing the surface tension of water in the alveolar surface. If surfactant is not present or is present but in less than normal quantities, then the attraction of water molecules for each other (and hence the surface tension) increases. And increased surface tension leads to an increased pressure in the alveoli that cna lead to their collaspe. The surface tension of normal fluids that line the alveoli with normal amounts of surfactant is 5-30 dyne/cm. The surface tension of normal fluids that line the alveoli without surfactant is 50 dyne/cm. Surface tensionis relate to P as follows: where? is the surfacetension and r is the radius. P= 20/r 1.) If an average sized alveolus hasa radius of 100?m, what is the surface tension pressure for an adult when surfactant is present? 2.) What is the pressure of an adultwith the average-sized alveoli but WITHOUT surfactant? 3.) Some premature babies havealveoli with a radii of one-quarter the size of normalbabies. If surfactant Isn't present, estimate thesurface-tension pressure for a premature baby.
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