Final answer:
The statement regarding the likelihood of alveolus collapse in accordance with Laplace's law is true. Smaller alveoli are more prone to collapse due to higher surface tension, which is counteracted by surfactant and influenced by factors like lung compliance and residual volume.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "According to Laplace's law, the smaller an alveolus is, the greater its chance of collapsing" is True. Laplace's law relates the pressure, volume, and surface tension within a spherical structure like an alveolus. It states that the pressure is directly proportional to the surface tension and inversely proportional to the radius of the alveolus. Smaller alveoli have higher surface tension, which can cause them to collapse more easily unless enough surfactant is present to reduce this tension. Surfactant is the substance that helps prevent the alveoli from collapsing by reducing surface tension. When lung compliance decreases, as when lungs become stiff and less pliable, or when there is increased resistance in the lung, the risk of alveolar collapse can increase.
Residual volume is the amount of air left in the lungs after a full exhalation and is one of the mechanisms that prevents alveoli from collapsing by maintaining a certain amount of air within the alveoli.