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Biophysics & Medical Physics FAQ

Surface tension in the lungs is reduced by:

Pulmonary surfactant. Pulmonary surfactant (mainly DPPC) reduces alveolar surface tension, preventing collapse on exhalation (Laplace equation: ΔP = 4γ/r).

Short Answer

Pulmonary surfactant is the best answer.

Biophysics questions work best when you translate anatomy or instrumentation back into plain physics: pressure gradients, flow, diffusion, energy deposition, imaging contrast, and signal-to-noise.

Pulmonary surfactant (mainly DPPC) reduces alveolar surface tension, preventing collapse on exhalation (Laplace equation: ΔP = 4γ/r).

Why This Answer Is Correct

This is a Easy-level question in Biophysics & Medical Physics. The prompt is really testing whether you can connect the concept to its defining physical relationship instead of picking a nearby-but-wrong term.

Clinical wording can hide a simple physics core. Strip the scenario down to transport, force, energy, or measurement first.

Choices At A Glance

  • A. Nitrogen
  • B. Carbon dioxide
  • C. Pulmonary surfactant
  • D. Haemoglobin

When similar options appear on an exam, eliminate the ones that break the core law, use the wrong units, or confuse a definition with a consequence.

Topic Snapshot

Topic: Biophysics & Medical Physics

Difficulty: Easy

Best next move: Re-state the governing law in your own words, then solve one more example from the same topic before moving on.