Infants born prematurely frequently develop respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn because they have too few alveoli to exchange O₂ and CO₂ efficiently.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants is primarily due to insufficient surfactant production, not the number of alveoli. Surfactant reduces surface tension in the lungs, preventing alveolar collapse.

Infants Born Prematurely Frequently Develop Respiratory Distress Syndrome of the Newborn