Destroyer: Bio question about the lungs

[shyfox9p]

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Question: Which statement is true
a: Surfactant reduces surface tension and allows the fetus to breathe easier
b: Surfactants are substances present in the alveoli of the lungs
c: Without adequate quantities of surfactant, an infant would have difficulty breathing
d: A and C
e: all of the above

I know b and c are true. However, statement a confused me a bit. My understanding is that the lungs of a fetus are collapsed. The fetus doesn't breathe, but the mother does the breathing for the fetus. Is this just a mistake made by Dr. Romano?

 

[syeh3]

Wasn't the answer all of the above?

 

[emminent]

Surfactant is necessary once the baby is delivered. The baby is outside the womb/uterus so it needs surfactant to breathe. So it's all of the above E.

 

[shyfox9p]

The answer is E. However, the fetus doesn't do any breathing until it is out of the womb.

 

[Project Pat]

The fetus does not actually breath in the womb, it does however practice its breathing movements.