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Aging effects all of the body's cells, tissues, and organs which in turn affect the functioning of all body systems. Changes in lung tissue near your airways lose their ability to keep the airways completely open. This causes the airways to close more easily. These change in lung tissue allows air to get trapped in your lungs. The degradation of lung tissue does not allow enough ____________. A) oxygen or carbon dioxide to enter the capillaries. B) carbon dioxide to enter the capillaries, and also less oxygen is removed C) oxygen to enter the capillaries, and also less carbon dioxide is removed D) carbon dioxide to be stored in the capillaries, and also less oxygen is removed

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The appropriate answer is C. the degeneration of lung tissue does not allow enough oxygen to enter the capillaries and less carbon dioxide to be removed. Oxygen is vital for cellular respiration and it enters the body via the lungs. Carbon dioxide is a waste product of the reaction and it must be removed from the blood.
The degeneration of lung tissue with age explains why most elderly individuals might suffer from shortness of breath.
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