Surfactant

ATI TEAS
Science: Human Anatomy and Physiology
Multiple choice
Difficulty 3 of 5

Question

In a conceptual model, the substance that helps keep lung air sacs from collapsing is absent. Which normal protective function has been lost?

Surfactant helps keep the lungs from collapsing.✓ Correct

Surfactant supports the stability of the lung air spaces.
Surfactant pumps blood into the pulmonary artery.✗ Incorrect

Surfactant helps maintain lung expansion; it does not pump blood.
Surfactant contracts the diaphragm during inhalation.✗ Incorrect

Diaphragm contraction is a muscular action, while surfactant helps prevent collapse.
Surfactant carries oxygen from the heart to tissues.✗ Incorrect

Surfactant acts in the lungs rather than serving as a systemic oxygen transport vessel.

Answer

A. Surfactant helps keep the lungs from collapsing.

Rationale

Alveoli produce surfactant, which helps preserve lung expansion. Removing this support makes collapse more likely in the model.

RememberSurfactant helps prevent collapse of lung air spaces.

Sources

Sources marked “Adapted from” are licensed under CC BY 4.0. We changed the material: its facts are rewritten into an original question, answer options and rationale. The original authors and publishers do not endorse SwipeExam.

Adapted from Open RN Health Alterations: Chapter 6 Respiratory Alterations Open RN (Chippewa Valley Technical College) · License: CC BY 4.0 · Retrieved November 2, 2026 · Review of Anatomy and Physiology of the Respiratory System › Alveoli · 2024

Last verified: November 5, 2026 2 independent automated checks Question teas-shap-00034, version 1

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