Chapter 10: Surfactant Agents

Chapter 10: Surfactant Agents

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Another name for surface-active agents is

ANS:  B

Surface-active agents lower alveolar surface tension and allow lower pressures to be used for alveolar inflation. Soap and various forms of detergent have similar surface tension–lowering capabilities, and surface-active agents, or surfactants, have also been termed detergents.

REF:   p. 173

2. As it relates to an alveolus, LaPlace’s law is written as

ANS:  D

For an alveolus (one air-liquid interface), LaPlace’s law is written as follows: pressure = (2 ´ surface tension)/radius.

For a bubble (two air-liquid interfaces), LaPlace’s law is written as follows: pressure = (4 ´ surface tension)/radius.

The unit of measure for surface tension is usually dynes per centimeter (dyn/cm).

REF:   p. 173

3. Lack of pulmonary surfactant in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) of the newborn typically results in

ANS:  A

The basic problem in RDS of the newborn is lack of pulmonary surfactant secondary to lung immaturity, which results in high surface tension in the liquid-lined, gas-filled alveoli.

REF:   p. 173 | p. 174

4. The term used to describe surfactant produced outside of the patient’s body is

ANS:  B

Endogenous surfactant is produced within a patient’s own body. The term exogenous, when used to describe this class of drugs, refers to surfactant preparations made outside the patient’s own body. These preparations may be obtained from other humans, from animals, or by laboratory synthesis. Natural surfactant may be either bovine or porcine and still be produced outside the patient’s own body. Bovine refers to a substance produced in or gathered from a cow.

REF:   p. 174

5. Endogenous surfactant is produced by

ANS:  A

Pulmonary surfactant is a complex mixture of lipids and proteins produced by alveolar type II cells. Goblet cells produce mucus. Alveolar type I cells form the thin blood-gas barrier through which gas exchange occurs. Macrophages are phagocytic cells that defend alveoli against foreign invaders.

REF:   p. 175