In patients with emphysema, the destruction of alveolar walls leads to a loss of elastic recoil. How does this typically affect the Residual Volume (RV) and the RV/TLC ratio?
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Correct answer: RV increases; RV/TLC ratio increases
Emphysema causes 'air trapping' because the airways collapse during expiration. This significantly increases the Residual Volume (RV), and because RV increases proportionally more than Total Lung Capacity (TLC), the RV/TLC ratio increases, indicating hyperinflation.
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