Patients with the respiratory disease emphysema lose the elasticity of their alveoli;their efforts to exhale can collapse the bronchioles and cause the alveoli to rupture.How might this disease affect the carbon dioxide content of their blood?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Emphysema affects the surface area available for diffusion of gases in the lungs, including carbon dioxide (CO2), because the alveoli lose their elasticity and can rupture. Consequently, the lungs have a reduced capacity to remove CO2 from the blood during exhalation, leading to an accumulation of CO2 in the blood (hypercapnia), which can cause respiratory acidosis. Therefore, the carbon dioxide content of the blood would increase in patients with emphysema.

Patients with the Respiratory Disease Emphysema Lose the Elasticity of Their