COPD

Question 1

In layman’s terms describe what happens to the structure of the alveoli of the lungs in Emphysema.

Answer 1

The alveoli are like a bunch of grapes. In emphysema there is overproduction of an enzyme that eats the cell wall. This causes a plum like alveoli. There is less surface area and are less elastic.
Less elastic because alveoli hold the distal airways taught so when they are eaten they cannot maintain the tension making the airways floppy.

Question 2

What causes alveoli to become emphysematous? Bullous (bullae) emphysema - large pockets of air

Answer 2

Smoking or alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency that causes overproduction of proteolytic enzymes that digest the alveoli cell wall.
So they go from grape like to plum like - bullae which is large pockets of air

Question 3

What does breakdown of alveolar walls result in physiologically? (Emphysema)

Answer 3

Loss of surface area
Less gas exchange
Loss of pulmonary capillaries affects perfusion and diffusion of gases