Final answer:
Emphysema is a chronic obstructive pulmonary condition caused by smoking, leading to the destruction of the alveolar walls and reduced gas exchange capacity of the lungs, exhibiting symptoms such as shortness of breath and chronic cough.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pulmonary condition characterized by the destruction of the extracellular matrix and enlargement of the alveoli is known as emphysema. Emphysema is a type of obstructive lung disease primarily caused by smoking, leading to the breakdown of the walls of the alveoli. This reduces the lungs' surface area available for gas exchange, and causes increased compliance of the lungs. The loss of elastic fibers within the alveoli results in decreased lung elastic recoil, and consequently, more air being trapped in the lungs at the end of exhalation.
The key symptomatic features of emphysema include chronic cough, wheezing, and especially shortness of breath during physical exertion. Since the damage to the alveoli is not reversible, management focuses on slowing the progression of the disease, primarily by ceasing smoking if applicable. It is mainly caused by smoking tobacco, which leads to the breakdown of the lung tissue and loss of elastic fibers in the alveolar walls.