PULMONARY SURFACTANT AS A KEY REGULATOR OF NEONATAL LUNG PHYSIOLOGY AND POSTNATAL RESPIRATORY ADAPTATION

Abstract

Pulmonary surfactant is a critical component of neonatal lung physiology and plays a central role in the successful transition to extrauterine life. By reducing surface tension at the air–liquid interface within the alveoli, surfactant prevents alveolar collapse, improves lung compliance, and facilitates efficient gas exchange. This article reviews the physiological role of pulmonary surfactant in the neonatal lung, its synthesis and function, and the consequences of surfactant deficiency. Understanding surfactant physiology is essential for the prevention and management of neonatal respiratory disorders, particularly in premature infants.