Final answer:
The lecithin to sphingomyelin ratio reflects fetal lung maturity and helps assess the risk of infant respiratory distress syndrome.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fetal lung maturity is indicated by the ratio of lecithin to sphingomyelin. The ratio in developed foetal lungs is roughly 2.5. Infant respiratory distress syndrome is less common in cases where the ratio is less than 1.5, while it is more common in cases where it is between 2.4 and 1.6. The ratio shows how much lecithin—a lung surfactant component that lowers surface tension—there is in relation to sphingomyelin.
As the fetus matures during the development of its lungs, surfactant production rises. The formation and functionality of surfactants are indicated by the lecithin to sphingomyelin ratio. An immature ratio denotes low surfactant levels, which can cause postpartum respiratory distress syndrome and difficulty breathing in newborns. Treatment for infants at risk of respiratory distress syndrome includes administering steroids to the mother or infant, surfactant application, and the use of a ventilator to assist breathing.