Final answer:
Surfactant is necessary for reducing the surface tension within the alveoli, allowing them to inflate more easily, which is crucial for effective breathing and preventing collapse. Its functionality is akin to that of a detergent and is vitally important for neonatal respiratory health. The correct option is C .
Step-by-step explanation:
Surfactant is necessary for reducing surface tension in the alveoli. It works similarly to a detergent by decreasing the amount of effort required to inflate the airways which is especially critical during the respiratory process. Just like coating the inside of a balloon with detergent would make it easier to blow up, surfactant in the lungs decreases the work needed to inflate the alveoli, the small air sacs where gas exchange occurs.
Alveoli are lined with a fluid that contains water, which creates a high surface tension that naturally resists expansion. Here, surfactant, a mixture of phospholipids and lipoproteins, dramatically lowers this surface tension, facilitating the inflation and function of the alveoli during breathing. Without adequate surfactant, alveoli may collapse upon exhalation (atelectasis), which is prominently seen in premature infants suffering from respiratory distress syndrome due to insufficient surfactant production.
Moreover, surfactant plays a critical role in maintaining lung stability by preventing the collapse of smaller alveoli and excessive expansion of larger ones. This balance helps ensure that all alveoli participate in gas exchange efficiently, contributing to stable and effective lung function. Therefore, surfactant is integral to respiratory health and particularly crucial for neonates who may need supplemental surfactant therapy if their own production is deficient.