Lung development in the fetus occurs at low oxygen tension in the womb, but after a very premature birth, the partly developed lungs of the tiny infants experience far greater oxygen tensions even without the prolonged supplemental oxygen that is often required. This can produce well-known disastrous effects on the structure and function of the neonatal lung, causing the serious lung condition of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in high-risk premature infants.

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