Question

The condition pulmonary fibrosis is caused by the replacement of elastic fibers in the lung with inelastic collagen
fibers, which decreases the lungs' distensibility (the ability to stretch outward). Would pulmonary fibrosis make
inspiration or expiration difficult? Explain.

Answer 1

ANSWER -

Breathing is the process of the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between external environment and body by the process of inspiration and expiration which is called respiration and this a very important process by which our body survives;

RESPIRATORY system is involved in breathing process and majorly lungs plays a major role in this

Normally as our body's every cell needs oxygen for survival so we inhale oxygen from the environment and these oxygen via lungs expansion goes till alveoli and from there get absorbed into the blood and circulates in whole body and waste carbon dioxide comes into the lungs and thrown out of the body.

Now this was the normal physiology of the breathing ; if there is any problem in respiratory tract means any hurdle embolism thrombosis stenosis etc all effects the breathing.

pulmonary fibrosis is the condition of scaring in the lungs in which fibers are deposited in the lungs which are inelastic in nature which are inelastic collagen fibers and so they decreasing the:

1. size of lungs
2. capacity
3. elasticity or expandibltiy

these things when seen in the lungs affects the breathing very much because it becomes the arrival of proper oxygen in lungs , they wont expand also properly to recieve oxygen and so the gaseous exchange and oxygen supply in blood becomes difficult. and due to this brain and heart are also majorly affected and various illness symptoms are seen.

NOW due to the pulmonary fibrosis the process of expiration becomes more difficult when compared between the two because normally the expiration is the exhalation of air outside the body for which the diaphragm use to relax thoracic cavity volume decreases and which increases the pressure the lungs and air goes out but now in the case of pulmonary fibrosis the expand capacity of cavity is lost the lungs cannot relax well and as a result air got trapped in the lungs making the expiration very difficult.

SO comparatively the expiration process becomes more tough than inspiration which whole respiration tough.

Due to the loss of elastic capacity the relaxation of pleural cavity becomes tough and so the expiration also.