A. Interfering with the cohesiveness of water molecules, thereby reducing the surface tension of alveolar fluid.
B. Humidifying the air before it enters
C. Warming the air before it enters
D. Protecting the surface of alveoli from dehydration and other environmental variations.
2007-03-18 13:18:29 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
I believe A. is correct. It reduces surface tension within the alveoli. The other 3 are incorrect.
2007-03-18 13:29:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like you had this question on a respiratory exam.
surfactant is a unique specialized substance that lines the inside of the alveoli. in a way all your choices are wrong but seem to have some near correct terminology. Answer A is the most correct if you have no other choice.
surfactant has the ability to reduce surface tension when the alveoli are closing, such as during exhalation. by reducing the surface tension the alveoli are kept from collapsing as the air is expelled and the elastic forces of tissue come to bear.. on the other side of the breath, inhalation, the surfactant by keeping the surface tension reduced makes it easier for the alveoli to expand. all of it has little to do with water except for the waters that are inherent in the surfactant itself.
many substances reduce surface tension. you can test one of them easily. put a few droplets of water on a counter top. the water should stay in a globule. add a pin head drop of alcolhol to the water and it will spead flat. that is reducing surface tension. what is unique about surfactant is that it retains its properties throughout your lifetime unless disease or invasion of fluids changes its properties but then that takes us into pathologies of various types so in a sense D could be a answer because the environment of the alveoli has been changed.
2007-03-19 13:56:59 · answer #2 · answered by gmillioni 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This question is from an online practice biology test located at http://www.1biology.50megs.com/Ch23.htm The correct answer is D. You can take this test online and it will score for you. Apparently this is a standard question on A & P II exams. Hope this helps.
I'm a Respiratory Student.
2007-03-18 23:13:49 · answer #3 · answered by xxyy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is A. Surfactant interferes with the cohesiveness of water molecules, thereby reducing the surface tension of alveolar fluid.
2007-03-18 13:29:40 · answer #4 · answered by MzzandtheChuchuBees 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it is D. this med is used to keep the aveoli from sticking to them selves so that they can fully inflate
2007-03-18 13:31:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋