In babies born prematurely, pulmonary surfactant may not be present in adequate amounts ______. in babies born prematurely, pulm
onary surfactant may not be present in adequate amounts ______. in the conducting zone structures of the lungs due to insufficient exocytosis in the type ii alveolar cells to permit adequate surface tension in the alveoli because the presence of collapsed alveoli prevents surfactant production
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 the surfactant is to lower the surface tension at the ir/liquid interface within the alveoli of the lung. In babies born prematurely, pulmonary surfactant may not be present in adequate amounts due to insufficient exocytosis in type II alveolar cells.
