Final answer:
The reinflation of a collapsed lung depends on restoring negative pressure in the chest cavity, potentially achieved through medical suction. The residual volume helps prevent alveolar collapse by maintaining a baseline pressure in the lungs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reinflation of a collapsed lung, known as a pneumothorax, depends on whether the negative pressure in the chest cavity can be restored. In the context of spontaneous pneumothorax, often related to abnormalities in connective tissue, the lungs may collapse if these attachments are broken. However, medical intervention such as the application of suction can help to reestablish the negative gauge pressure, ranging between -4 to -8 mm Hg during exhalation and inhalation, which is crucial for keeping the lungs inflated. The alveoli are prevented from collapsing by the residual volume, which is the amount of air remaining in the lungs after a forceful exhale, providing a baseline of pressure to counteract the natural surface tension within the alveoli.