Based on the anatomic and physiological differences between an infant and an adult, which finding would suggest respiratory distress in an infant, but would be less likely to be observed in an adult?

Question

Vito

Biology

23 November, 23:32

Based on the anatomic and physiological differences between an infant and an adult, which finding would suggest respiratory distress in an infant, but would be less likely to be observed in an adult?

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Answers (1)

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Moises Chen · Answer 1

Surfactant deficiency due to undeveloped lungs (in premature infants) suggest respiratory distress in an infant, but would be less likely to be observed in an adult beacuse in adults, lungs are fully developed and lack of surfactant is less.

Explanation:

Respiratory distress syndrome is a type of neonatal disease of respiration, caused by deficiency of the surfactant produced by type II alveolar cells in the lungs most commonly in premature infants.

Normally, the lungs of the fetus start the formation of the surfactant during the third trimester (26 weeks through labor and delivery) but in the premature infants, the lungs are not totally developed, hence lack of surfactant production results in the respiratory distress syndrome charactarized by inflammation of the airways due to the lack of the surface tension lowring effect of the surfactant.