What is the primary effect of emphysema on lung physiology?

The primary effect of emphysema on lung physiology is the destruction of alveoli. Emphysema is characterized by the irreversible damage to the alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs in the lungs responsible for gas exchange. This destruction leads to a loss of surface area for gas exchange, impairing the ability of the lungs to oxygenate blood and remove carbon dioxide effectively.

As the alveoli are destroyed, they can merge into larger air spaces, which reduces the overall surface area where oxygen and carbon dioxide can be exchanged. This results in difficulties with breathing, particularly during physical exertion, as the lungs cannot meet the body’s oxygen demands. The loss of elastic recoil also contributes to the difficulty in exhaling air, leading to air trapping and hyperinflation of the lungs, which further complicates the respiratory process.

In emphysema, while there may be changes related to the bronchial walls, these are secondary to the main pathology of alveolar destruction. The condition does not primarily cause increased elasticity of lung tissue nor does it lead to a significant reduction of blood flow to the lungs; rather, the vascular changes that may occur are a consequence of the chronic hypoxia and other systemic effects of the disease.