Surfactant: Difference between revisions
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Surfactant is a [[Lipoprotein|lipoprotein]] molecule which is produced by alveolar type 2 cells in the lungs. It is required in the lungs to reduce [[surafce tension|surface tension ]]in alveolar type 1 cells. This maintenance of surface tension is key to allow the rapid diffusion of gases such as [[Oxygen|oxygen]] and [[Carbon dioxide|carbon dioxide]] across the [[alveoli|alveoli ]]membrane <ref>Griese, M. (1999). Pulmonary surfactant in health and human lung diseases: state of the art.. Eur Rispar J. (9), 1455-1476.</ref> Because the alveoli are so small, the water molecules are close enough for the attraction of [[Hydrogen_bonds|hydrogen bonds]] to occur, applying a force making it harder for the alveoli to expand, reducing the internal pressure and therefore creating a gradient for air to move from the higher [[atmospheric pressure |atmospheric pressure ]]into the alveoli. | |||
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Latest revision as of 15:00, 20 October 2015
Surfactant is a lipoprotein molecule which is produced by alveolar type 2 cells in the lungs. It is required in the lungs to reduce surface tension in alveolar type 1 cells. This maintenance of surface tension is key to allow the rapid diffusion of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide across the alveoli membrane [1] Because the alveoli are so small, the water molecules are close enough for the attraction of hydrogen bonds to occur, applying a force making it harder for the alveoli to expand, reducing the internal pressure and therefore creating a gradient for air to move from the higher atmospheric pressure into the alveoli.
References
- ↑ Griese, M. (1999). Pulmonary surfactant in health and human lung diseases: state of the art.. Eur Rispar J. (9), 1455-1476.