Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Airflow limitation that is not entirely reversible. Airflow limitation is usu progressive and assoc with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles/gases.

1. Emphysema2. Chronic bronchitis

A pathological loss of alveolar tissue

The alveolar tissue in the walls of the alveoli are what are tethering the airways open; without these walls, especially on exhalation, the airways are not held open and they collapse, which leads to crimping (like stopping a water hose), so emphysematous patient can't breathe out.

Obstructive.

Normal lung tissue = see lots of alveolar wallsEmphysema = see lots of big spaces, loss of alveolar tissue

The emphysematous lung looks digested away and fuzzy.

False. But it does tend to cause centrilobular emphysema.

CentrilobularPanlobularParaseptalIrregular

Affects mostly around the rim of the lung.

Emphysema can be defined pathologically, but chronic bronchitis cannot; it is defined by symptoms

Cough on most days for 3 months for 2 consecutive years

Inflammation of airways (thickening + inflammatory cell infiltrate) and mucus plugging up the lumen of the airways

1. Thickening of bronchial smooth muscle 2. Enlargement of bronchial glands

Airflow is blocked; lungs don't empty