Surfactant is produced by type II alveolar cells in the lung

Surfactant is produced by type II alveolar cells in the lungs. Its purpose is to decrease surface tension and keep the alveoli open. What is the composition of the surfactant? (Select all that apply) A. Albumin B. Lecithin C. Progesterone D. Thiamine

Solution

Answer:-option-\"B\"-lecithin.

Pulmonary surfactant is a mixture of lipids and proteins which is secreted into the alveolar space by epithelial type II cells.

**The main function of surfactant is to lower the surface tension at the air/liquid interface within the alveoli of the lung.

Pulmonary surfactant is a complex mixture of phospholipids (PL) and proteins (SP) that reduce surface tension at the air-liquid interface of the alveolus.

**It is made up of about 70% to 80% PL, mainlydipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine(DPPC)(also called -lecithin), 10% SP-A, B, C and D, and 10% neutral lipids, mainly

Lungs require surfactant, a soap-like substance, to lower the surface pressure of the alveoli in thelungs.