Pediatric Research Questions Related

Review Pediatric Research Questions related questions and content

Which action best explains the main role of surfactant in the neonate?

  • A. Assists with ciliary body maturation in the upper airways
  • B. Helps maintain a rhythmic breathing pattern
  • C. Promotes clearing mucus from the respiratory tract
  • D. Helps the lungs remain expanded after the initiation of breathing
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Surfactant plays a crucial role in the neonate by helping the lungs remain expanded after the initiation of breathing. Surfactant is a substance produced by type II alveolar cells in the lungs that reduces surface tension in the alveoli. By lowering surface tension, surfactant prevents the alveoli from collapsing during expiration, thereby helping the lungs to remain expanded and functional. This function is particularly important in neonates, whose lungs are not yet fully developed and may have difficulty maintaining lung expansion without adequate levels of surfactant. Failure to produce enough surfactant can lead to respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants.