Final answer:
Emphysema is the condition characterized by the breakdown of the alveoli, leading to impaired gas exchange in the lungs and associated with symptoms like shortness of breath and chronic cough.
Step-by-step explanation:
The condition described by the breakdown of the alveoli is emphysema. Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by damage to the alveoli, which are the tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs. In emphysema, the walls of the alveoli are destroyed, which leads to decreased surface area for gas exchange, increased lung compliance due to loss of elastic fibers, and air trapping in the lungs at the end of exhalation. This results in symptoms like shortness of breath, especially during exercise, chronic cough, and wheezing, mostly due to cigarette smoking. On the other hand, atelectasis refers to the collapse of alveoli, which can occur in various conditions such as after surgery or with a lung obstruction, but it is not associated with the structural breakdown found in emphysema.