surfactant

surfactant definition - medical

sur·fac·tant (sər-făkˈtənt, sûrˈfăkˌ-)

noun
  1. A surface-active substance.
  2. A substance composed of lipoprotein that is secreted by the alveolar cells of the lung and serves to maintain the stability of pulmonary tissue by reducing the surface tension of fluids that coat the lung.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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