Final answer:
The typical change of 'Destruction of alveolar walls and septae' refers to cellular damage occurring in emphysema, a chronic lung disease most commonly caused by smoking, which leads to decreased gas exchange and breathing difficulties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The typical change referred to in the statement, "Destruction of alveolar walls and septae," occurs in the medical condition known as emphysema. This chronic lung disease is most commonly caused by smoking. In emphysema, the walls between the alveoli are damaged and eventually break down, which reduces the surface area for gas exchange within the lungs. This destruction leads to an increase in lung compliance due to a decrease in the elastic recoil of the lungs as elastic fibers are lost. Consequently, more air remains trapped in the lungs at the end of exhalation, causing difficulty in breathing and reduced oxygen supply to the bloodstream. Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group that also includes other conditions such as asthma and pulmonary edema which are characterized by obstructed airways. The changes in alveolar structure in emphysema lead to a decrease in gas exchange efficiency and an overall disruption of normal respiratory function.