Emphysema

• what is emphysema?


  a lung disease caused by smoking or long-term exposure to air pollution- foreign particles in the smoke/air become trapped in the alveoli
• Describe elastin?


  Elastin is elastic - it helps the alveoli to return to their normal shape after inhaling & exhaling air
• Emphysema: foreign particles in smoke become trapped in the alveoili- what does this CAUSE?

  Inflammation , which attracts phagocytes to the area. The phagocytes produce an enzyme that breaks down elastin (a protein found in the walls of the alveoli )
• what does lots of elastin mean?

  the alveoli cannot recoil to expel air as well

  (it remains trapped in the alveoli)
• What does lots of elastin also lead to?

  Destruction of the alveoli walls = reduces SA of alveoli = decreases rate of gaseous exchange
• What do symptoms of emphysema include?

  • Shortness of breath and wheezing
• What do people with emphysema have?

  an increased ventilation rate as they try to increase the amount of air containing oxygen reaching their lungs
• why do people with emphysema have an increased ventilation rate

  because they try to increase the amount of air containing oxygen reaching their lungs