Which of the following physiologic conditions results from the presence of normal amounts of pulmonary surfactant in the lung?

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Functionally, surfactant increases lung compliance, promotes homogeneous gas distribution during inhalation, and allows a residual volume of gas to be evenly distributed throughout the lung during exhalation-that is, it maintains functional residual capacity. In the absence of surfactant, distribution of ventilation becomes uneven, the lungs become stiff, and atelectasis ensues during exhalation. The result is increased work of breathing, hypoxia, and respiratory failure, the clinical picture exemplified by preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Surfactant functions are summarized in Box 14-1 in the textbook.

Which of the Following Physiologic Conditions Results from the Presence