Final answer:
Alveoli development and maturation continue after birth, completing around 8 years of age. The production of pulmonary surfactant and growth of alveolar precursors predominantly occur from week 24 until birth but also extend into childhood.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lung Development After Birth
The stage of lung development that continues after birth is the maturation and development of alveoli. Although significant respiratory development occurs in the fetus from around week 4 of pregnancy.
which includes the formation of the airway structures, respiratory bronchioles, and vascularization, it is post-birth that this development progresses substantially.
From birth until around 8 years of age, the alveoli continue to mature and increase in number. The increasing levels of pulmonary surfactant production and the growth of the alveolar precursors are especially important during the period from week 24 to term.
Notably, a full complement of functional alveoli does not appear until childhood, showing that lung development is an ongoing process that extends well beyond birth.