Syllabus · Current · V5 (2025) · Respiratory System
C3 · Mechanics of Breathing
C3.ix · Surfactant
Describe surfactant including its production, composition and role.
Written examination
SAQ history
Surfactant
1 exam appearance
Describe the structure of surfactant (25% of marks). Explain the effects of surfactant upon surface tension and lung mechanics (75% of marks)
36.4%
Oral examination
VIVA history
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2009B · VIVA 1
The initial information given to the candidates was – This VIVA will assess your knowledge of pulmonary mechanics Can you identify this curve and label the axes? Candidates were tested on their knowledge of pulmonary compliance, its measurement, factors that influence it, surfactant and interpretation of common ventilator waveforms.
Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.