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Alveolar Surface Tension and Lung Surfactant

Jon Goerke, John A. Clements

10.1002/cphy.cp030316

Source: Supplement 12: Handbook of Physiology, The Respiratory System, Mechanics of Breathing

Originally published: 1986

Published online: January 2011

Full Article on Wiley Online Library



Abstract

The sections in this article are:

1 Background
1.1 Early Contributors
1.2 Relevance of Alveolar Surface Film
1.3 Current Model of Lung Surfactant Action
2 Definition and Measurement of Surface Tension
2.1 Generation of Interfacial Tension
2.2 Methods
3 Adsorption and Spreading of Surfactant Films
3.1 Form of Surfactant
3.2 Factors Affecting Adsorption and Spreading
4 Properties of Films Related to Lung Surfactant
4.1 Low Surface Tension and Other Quasi‐Static Film Properties
4.2 Dynamic Film Properties
5 Influence of Surface Tension on Lung Pressure‐Volume Behavior
5.1 Static Properties
5.2 Dynamic Properties
6 Turnover and Recycling of Surfactant Components
6.1 Possible Recycling Paths
6.2 Local Monolayer Recycling
6.3 Extramonolayer Recycling Pathways
7 Summary of Lung Surfactant Properties
7.1 Rapid Adsorption and Spreading
7.2 Low Surface Tension When Film is Compressed
7.3 Stable Low Surface Tension
8 Future Considerations
Figure 1. Figure 1.

Langmuir film balance. Barrier rests on top of trough sidewalls. Moving it left compresses the surface film, lowering surface tension (raising the surface pressure). Compressed film pushes on mica float with a force proportional to difference between surface tensions in the clean and film‐covered surfaces. Float is kept in a null position by applying an opposing force, which is therefore a measure of film surface pressure. In many applications this force is supplied by a nulled torsion balance.
Figure 2. Figure 2.

Modified Wilhelmy film balance. Ends of barrier fit tightly against sidewalls of trough. Surface tension is lowered by moving barrier to left and compressing the film. This is sensed as a decreased force pulling on small, hydrophilic Wilhelmy dipping plate.
Figure 3. Figure 3.

Surface pressure vs. area for dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine monolayers at various temperatures. ▪, 34.6°C; Δ, 29.5°C; ▪, 26.0°C; ×, 21.1°C; ○, 16.8°C; △, 12.4°C; □, 6.2°C.

From Phillips and Chapman 149
Figure 4. Figure 4.

Surface pressure vs. area for dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine compressed to collapse pressures. Highest surface pressures at each temperature correspond to zero surface tension.

J. Goerke and J. Gonzales, unpublished observations
Figure 5. Figure 5.

Surface pressure vs. area for dog lung surfactant at 37°C. Surface pressure of 70 mN·m−1 corresponds to surface tension of 0 mN·m−1.

From King and Clements 93
Figure 6. Figure 6.

Volume vs. pressure from isolated rat (○) and cat (×) lungs. Surface tension was directly measured in lungs at selected points on deflation curve as indicated by arrows.

Rat data from Schürch et al. 169; cat data from Schürch 168


Figure 1.

Langmuir film balance. Barrier rests on top of trough sidewalls. Moving it left compresses the surface film, lowering surface tension (raising the surface pressure). Compressed film pushes on mica float with a force proportional to difference between surface tensions in the clean and film‐covered surfaces. Float is kept in a null position by applying an opposing force, which is therefore a measure of film surface pressure. In many applications this force is supplied by a nulled torsion balance.



Figure 2.

Modified Wilhelmy film balance. Ends of barrier fit tightly against sidewalls of trough. Surface tension is lowered by moving barrier to left and compressing the film. This is sensed as a decreased force pulling on small, hydrophilic Wilhelmy dipping plate.



Figure 3.

Surface pressure vs. area for dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine monolayers at various temperatures. ▪, 34.6°C; Δ, 29.5°C; ▪, 26.0°C; ×, 21.1°C; ○, 16.8°C; △, 12.4°C; □, 6.2°C.

From Phillips and Chapman 149


Figure 4.

Surface pressure vs. area for dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine compressed to collapse pressures. Highest surface pressures at each temperature correspond to zero surface tension.

J. Goerke and J. Gonzales, unpublished observations


Figure 5.

Surface pressure vs. area for dog lung surfactant at 37°C. Surface pressure of 70 mN·m−1 corresponds to surface tension of 0 mN·m−1.

From King and Clements 93


Figure 6.

Volume vs. pressure from isolated rat (○) and cat (×) lungs. Surface tension was directly measured in lungs at selected points on deflation curve as indicated by arrows.

Rat data from Schürch et al. 169; cat data from Schürch 168
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Article Title: Alveolar Surface Tension and Lung Surfactant
 

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Jon Goerke, John A. Clements. Alveolar Surface Tension and Lung Surfactant. Compr Physiol 2011, Supplement 12: Handbook of Physiology, The Respiratory System, Mechanics of Breathing: 247-261. First published in print 1986. doi: 10.1002/cphy.cp030316