What it means
Surfactant is made by cells in the alveolusal-VEE-uh-lus (plural alveoli, al-VEE-uh-ly)One of the tiny air sacs at the ends of the smallest airways in the lungs.Full entry . It keeps the tiny air sacs from sticking shut at the end of each breath, making breathing much easier. The fetal lungs begin making enough of it late in pregnancy, so babies born early may lack it and develop respiratory distress syndrome. Man-made surfactant can be given into the newborn's lungs through a breathing tube.
For the nurse
Corticosteroids (such as betamethasone) given to a pregnant client at risk of an early birth help the baby's lungs make surfactant. Watch a preterm newborn for grunting, nasal flaring, retractions and fast breathing.
At a glance
| Spanish | surfactante |
|---|---|
| Also written | surfactants |
Related terms
alveolus
One of the tiny air sacs at the ends of the smallest airways in the lungs.
atelectasis
The collapse of part or all of a lung, in which the tiny air sacs close and hold no air.
gas exchange
The movement of oxygen from the air sacs of the lungs into the blood and of carbon dioxide from the blood into the air sacs.