Final answer:
The ability of a lung to recoil or recover from stretch is called elasticity. This aspect of lung function is essential during expiration, while compliance is about the lung's ability to expand during inspiration. Residual volume helps to prevent alveoli from collapsing after exhalation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of a lung to recoil, or recover from stretch, is called elasticity. This property is crucial for the process of expiration, where the lung tissue exerts pressure back toward the lung's interior, essentially pushing the air out. Conversely, compliance refers to the ability of the lungs to expand during inspiration, necessitating contraction of the diaphragm and relaxation of the thoracic wall to change the lung volume.
Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV) is the additional amount of air that can be inhaled after a normal breath, while expiratory reserve volume (ERV) is the amount of extra air that can be exhaled after a normal exhalation. The Thoracic wall compliance affects how easily the lungs can expand within the chest cavity, thus influencing both the effort and capacity for breathing.
For the alveoli to remain open and not collapse, a certain amount of air known as the residual volume remains in the lungs even after a maximal exhalation. This allows the lungs to stay inflated and ready for the next breath.