Practise IB Biology HL B1.1.12 through questions that extend amphipathic phospholipids into bilayer, monolayer and membrane-orientation reasoning.
Cells in the alveolus wall produce a surfactant. Its function is to prevent alveoli collapse at the end of expiration. Surfactants are used in the treatment of respiratory system disease in premature babies.
The table shows some of the components of different surfactant preparations.
State the surfactant that contains the least amount of phospholipids.
Compare the composition of natural human surfactant with synthetic surfactants.
Phospholipids found in the surfactants form a surface film on the moist lining of the alveoli. Outline how the hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts of the phospholipids in the surfactants are aligned on the alveolar surface.