The chronic inflammation destroys air sacs: instead of many little air sacs, enlarged "bags" develop which are permanently (the air always remains in there, even during exhalation) filled with air. Blood vessels around the air sacs [capillaries] are destroyed, as well, and gas exchange is limited (keyword: oxygen saturation.

During the course of the disease more and more of the approx. 200 to 300 million alveoli in a healthy lung are altered and turn into emphysematous bullae (looking like bubbles). The development of emphysemaisa space-consuming process in which more and more air is trapped in the emphysematous bullae [hyperinflation]. Thus, the pulmonary emphysemais medically defined as a not fully reversible [irreversible] hyperinflation of the smallest, air filled structures in the lung.

Supplementary information