A 26-year-old woman at 14 weeks gestation presents to the emergency department with painless cervical dilation and rupture of membranes. Despite full resuscitative efforts at delivery, the neonate cannot sustain respiratory activity and expires within minutes of birth. Subsequent autopsy of the lungs reveals branching airways lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium throughout. No respiratory bronchioles or terminal air sacs are identified on histologic examination.
Which of the following most accurately explains why this neonate could not achieve respiratory function?