Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jpl-devvax!jenkins From: jenkins@jpl-devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV (Steve Jenkins) Newsgroups: sci.space Subject: Re: Liquid SCUBA Message-ID: <11350@jpl-devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV> Date: 7 Feb 91 22:15:43 GMT References: <1991Feb4.173100.1@happy.colorado.edu> Reply-To: jenkins@jpl-devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV (Steve Jenkins) Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA Lines: 32 In article dlbres10@pc.usl.edu (Fraering Philip) writes: >In article <1991Feb4.173100.1@happy.colorado.edu> sesharp@happy.colorado.edu writes: > >>[....] Premature babies often die >>of collapsed lungs because they don't produce sufficient surfactants to >>hold them open against surface tension. > >Could you reference the study please? > >I'm not questioning the truth of this, I'm curious because I was a premature >baby. (The only time in my life I was early, and it just about killed me). A slight clarification. The lungs are prevented from collapse by adhesion to the chest wall (like wet glass plates stuck together). Separation of the two (by injury, perhaps) is called 'pneumothorax' and will cause even normal lungs to collapse. It is life-threatening. Premature infants are at risk because their underdeveloped lungs are uncompliant for lack of pulmonary surfactant. Their lungs don't collapse, they just don't distend (under normal ventilatory pressures) sufficiently to allow adequate oxygenation. Standard plug: if you're interested in breathing (who isn't :-)), John B. West's little book "Respiratory Physiology: the essentials" is a good reference. Williams & Wilkins is the publisher, I think. There is also a mention of this particular problem (complete with Shakespearean quote) in Brian Whipp's chapter of Gordon Ross's physiology textbook. Can't remember the name, something catchy like "Human Physiology". -- Steve Jenkins N6UNI jenkins@jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov Caltech/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (818) 354-0162