Pulmonary surfactant is a surface-active lipoprotein complex formed by type II alveolar cells. The proteins and lipids that comprise surfactant have both a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region. By adsorbing to the air-water interface of alveoli with the hydrophilic headgroups in the water and the hydrophobic tails facing towards the air, the main lipid component of surfactant, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, reduces surface tension. , To increase pulmonary compliance , To prevent...
Pulmonary surfactant is like soap. It lowers the surface tension (the strength of the fluid) so that materials can float away or so that your lungs can function.
Surfactant is important...