Dysfunction of type I and type II pneumocytes leads to a drop in surfactant levels and an increase in surface tension, thereby reducing the ability of the lungs to inflate and increasing the risk of lung collapse.
Kutofanya kazi kwa mikamba ya hewa ya type-I na type-II hupunguza viwango vya mshtuko vya bidhaa oevu na kuzidisha viwango vya mshutuko wa eneo, hivyo kupunguza uwezekano wa mapafu kupanuka na kuweka hatari zaidi ya mapafu kukosa kufanya kazi.