Why does thickened mucus in the alveoli of cystic fibrosis patients impair gas exchange more than reduced lung elasticity?

💡 Explanation

Thickened mucus directly impedes the diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide across the alveolar membrane because it increases the diffusion distance and reduces the concentration gradient. Therefore, gas exchange is severely compromised. Reduced elasticity affects ventilation, rather than the efficiency of diffusion at the alveolar surface.

• An individual consumes a large meal rich in fats, but their gallbladder is failing to release adequate bile. Which consequence follows regarding digestive efficiency?
• If a collegiate athlete suffers a concussion during a game and a standardized concussion protocol is immediately initiated, which consequence related to cellular energy is most likely?
• In type 2 diabetes, why does increasing circulating insulin not always effectively lower blood glucose levels, even with functioning pancreatic beta cells?
• If a mutation disables the G1 checkpoint in rapidly dividing lung cancer cells stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF), which consequence follows regarding apoptosis?
• A patient with chronic anemia has a blood pH of 7.2, resulting from increased anaerobic metabolism. Which effect dominates hemoglobin's oxygen-binding affinity in this condition?
• In a patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experiencing persistent hyperoxaluria despite dietary changes, which consequence follows from impaired tubular secretion of oxalate?