Since the first edition of this book was published in 1984, there has been a spectacular development in both basic research on the pulmonary surfactant system and the clinical use of surfactant for treatment of lung diseases hence the addition of the subtitle indicating the expansion of knowledge in the field and the expanded information necessary to be incorporated in the present volume. In the first half, the emphasis remains on basic science, including surface chemistry and ultrastructure of surfactant components, the role of surfactant in lung mechanics and alveolar liquid homeostasis, and surfactant metabolism and its hormonal control. Clinical applications of surfactant research are dealt with extensively in the remaining chapters. Also included are selected examples of new concepts emerging during the last few years to illustrate the fascinating complexity of the surfactant system. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.