Question

1) how do you think you would be affected if the surface area of your lungs was reduced?

Answer 1

The rate of oxygen diffusion is dependent on the surface area, so gas exchange occurs more quickly with larger surface areas. As a result, the surface available for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between inhaled air and blood traversing the lungs is reduced. Emphysema destroys the walls of the alveoli of the lungs, resulting in a loss of surface area available for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide during breathing.