Surfactant
Topic: Anatomy & physiology
A slippery substance secreted in the alveoli that lowers surface tension and keeps alveoli from collapsing on expiration. It reaches adequate levels only late in pregnancy, so deficiency in preterm infants causes neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Antenatal corticosteroids are given to women at risk of preterm birth to mature the fetal lungs, and surfactant can be given to the infant.
- Also known as:
- Pulmonary surfactant
- In Turkish:
- Sürfaktan
What does Surfactant mean?
Surfactant is part of the Anatomy & physiology topic in nursing. Students meet it in class, on clinical placements and while preparing for exams.
Search the whole glossary, add terms to your sets and review them in the Finito Nursing app.