• Question: what do you mean by liquid in the lungs?

    Asked by meganmoult to Audra on 20 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Audra Benjamin

      Audra Benjamin answered on 20 Mar 2012:

      There is a very thin layer of liquid in lungs and it helps with gas exchange. This liquid is mainly sodium chloride and water. The fetal lung is filled with liquid and this liquid yet again is mainly sodium chloride and water. In my experiments we filled the lungs with a solution that is similar to the fetal liquid.

      There is an illness called pulmonary oedema where liquid leaks into the lungs from the blood and left untreated would lead to death. So, apart from the thin lining, liquid in the lungs isn’t a good thing.

Comments