BIOLOGY Volume 1 - A Guide to General Biology - 2004

9. ENERGY UTILIZATION

9.7. Respiratory Diseases

9.7.6. Effects of Age on the Respiratory System

The efficiency of the Respiratory system gradually declines with age. Elastic tissue is partially lost, and the chest wall becomes stiffer and harder to expand. As a result, vital capacity—the maximum volume of air that can be exhaled following a maximum inhalation—decreases.

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Fig. 9.35. Left: a healthy lung; right: a lung affected by Cancer (the white patch at the bottom is a cancerous tumor).

By the age of 70, vital capacity may be reduced by up to 35%. Age affects virtually all aspects of respiratory function: in particular, epithelial cilia beat less vigorously, and white Blood Cells are less active in carrying out their protective Functions. All of this makes the respiratory system more vulnerable, increasing the likelihood of conditions such as Pneumonia, Bronchitis, and pulmonary emphysema.



Last update: 06/08/2026

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