Final answer:
Aging causes the weakening of elastin and collagen fibers, leading to increased lung compliance as the lungs become more pliable but less able to recoil effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you age, elastin and collagen fibers tend to weaken, which will, in turn, increase lung compliance. This is because these fibers lose some of their elastic properties, leading to less elasticity in the lung tissue. Aging causes the connective tissues in the lungs to become less elastic and more rigid, resulting in decreased lung compliance. As the elastin and collagen fibers weaken, the lungs become stiffer and less pliable, making it harder for the lungs to expand and contract properly.As lung tissue becomes less elastic, the lungs become more compliant – that is, they can expand more easily, but they are less able to recoil to expel air, which also can impair the efficiency of gas exchange. However, this increased compliance due to weakened fibers can translated into reduced functional capacity as the lungs are less capable of vigorous, rebounding contractions.