Which of the choices below describes the forces that act to pull the lungs away from the thorax wall and thus collapse the lungs?
A) compliance and transpulmonary pressures
B) compliance and the surface tension of the alveolar fluid
C) the natural tendency for the lungs to recoil and the surface tension of the alveolar fluid
D) the natural tendency for the lungs to recoil and transpulmonary pressures

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The natural tendency for the lungs to recoil and the surface tension of the alveolar fluid act together to pull the lungs away from the thorax wall and collapse them. Compliance and transpulmonary pressures work to expand the lungs, so they are not forces that cause lung collapse.

Which of the Choices Below Describes the Forces That Act