Premature infants have a lack of surfactant which decreases compliance of the lungs and increases the lung elastic recoil (FA2020 p665).
The high surface tension is the main contributor to elastic recoil in the lung of a neonate. Because the surface tension is high due to lack of surfactant, recoil is also high, and the lungs and alveoli have more tendancy to collapse.
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Premature infants have a lack of surfactant which decreases compliance of the lungs and increases the lung elastic recoil (FA2020 p665).
The high surface tension is the main contributor to elastic recoil in the lung of a neonate. Because the surface tension is high due to lack of surfactant, recoil is also high, and the lungs and alveoli have more tendancy to collapse.