How does respiratory compliance change in diseased lungs?

In the context of diseased lungs, respiratory compliance refers to the ability of the lung tissue to expand when air is inhaled. This is influenced by the elasticity of the lung tissues and the surrounding structures. In various lung diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the lung tissues can become stiff or less elastic, leading to a decrease in compliance.

When compliance reduces, it means that more effort is required to expand the lungs during breathing. Patients may experience difficulty in inhaling enough air, leading to inadequate ventilation and potential hypoxia. Thus, the statement that compliance decreases as the lungs become stiffer accurately reflects the physiological changes that occur in many pulmonary diseases.

Additionally, while the degree of reduction in compliance can vary based on the specific disease and its severity, the overall trend in diseased lungs is a decreased ability to expand, resulting in reduced respiratory compliance.