Question

ssume the alveolar radii are 0.05 and 0.07 mm towards the end of exhalation. Knowingthat air flows from high to low pressures, calculate the pressure difference between thealveoli and justify why the smaller alveolus does not collapse.

Answer 1

Pressure Difference = 0

Step-by-step explanation:

The pressure difference between the walls of alveoli is always zero no matter what the radius is. This happens because of two reason why alveoli do not collapse. First, the inhalation is relatively easy due the presence of enough lipoprotein surfactant in lungs. Second, the walls are porous enough so their can be pressure loss that may cause alveoli to collapse.