Final answer:
In Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease, particularly emphysema, there is a loss of elastic fibers in the lungs leading to decreased lung elastic recoil and increased air trapping.
Step-by-step explanation:
In patients with Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease (COPD), particularly those with emphysema which is often a result of smoking, there is a loss of elastic fibers in the lungs. This loss of elasticity can be understood through the concept that the walls of the alveoli are destroyed, leading to a decrease in the surface area for gas exchange and increased lung compliance. Due to this damage, there is a decrease in the lung's elastic recoil, which allows more air to become trapped in the lungs at the end of exhalation. Obstructive conditions like asthma also affect breathing and gas exchange through mechanisms like airway inflammation, muscle spasms, and increased mucus production, which lead to increased airway resistance.