Question

List 5 reasons why the lungs don’t collapse

Answer 1

Lungs are the main organs of respiratory system. Lungs are the main site for gas exchange.
The lungs during respiration do not collapse due to elastic recoil of the lungs. The elastic recoil is maintained because of the following factors:

- composition of lung tissue : the lungs consists of elastic fibres (elastin) and collagen which provides the lungs its elastic property.

- surfactant : surfactant produced by type ll alveoli helps prevent lungs from collapsing.
- intrapleural pressure : maintaining the intrapleural pressure during respiration helps preventing lung from collapse.

- extracellular matrix present in the interalveolar septum contains large amount of fibroblast and exerts forces within the alveoli that pulls away from the centre, thus preventing collapse.

- residual volume : the air remaining within the lungs even after forced expiration helps prevent the lungs from collapsing.