The following two figures of the slide of the lung is stained with resorcin fuchsin to demonstrate elastic fibers.

Clinical Case

On a recent visit to your parents on their farm, you were asked by one of the workers to have a look at his dad who had not been well for some time. This was such a textbook case of emphysema that you did not even need X-rays or any laboratory tests to confirm your diagnosis. He had a long history of exertional dyspnea with minimal cough that is productive of only small amounts of mucoid sputum. He appeared distressed, with obvious use of accessory muscles of respiration, which served to lift the sternum in an anterosuperior direction with each inspiration. There was tachypnea with a relatively prolonged expiration through pursed lips, or expiration was begun with a grunting sound. Which connective tissue fibres are found in the alveolar septa? List the cell types found in the alveolar wall. Describe the organisation of the alveolo-capillary membrane. Distinguish morphologically and functionally between type I and type II pneumocytes. Distinguish morphologically and functionally between bronchioles and respiratory bronchioles. Why is expiration incomplete in emphysema patients?

This is a low magnification of lung tissue showing the distribution of elastic fibers in the lung. Fig 72-001

This is a high magnification of lung tissue demonstrating elastic fibers in the lung. Fig 72-002

Memorandum
Clinical Case	Fig 72-001	Fig 72-002