Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Whitsett JA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4127631 | biostudies-literature | 2010
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Whitsett Jeffrey A JA Wert Susan E SE Weaver Timothy E TE
Annual review of medicine 20100101
The alveolar region of the lung creates an extensive epithelial surface that mediates the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide required for respiration after birth. Maintenance of pulmonary function depends on the function of type II epithelial cells that synthesize and secrete pulmonary surfactant lipids and proteins, reducing the collapsing forces created at the air-liquid interface in the alveoli. Genetic and acquired disorders associated with the surfactant system cause both acute and chron ...[more]