The Senile Lung
Abstract
As part of a study of the structural-functional correlations of excised human lungs obtained at autopsy, the parenchyma and peripheral airways were examined by means of morphometric techniques. Among the 30 lungs characterized by the absence of fibrosis, ten differed from the normal and emphysematous lungs by a homogeneous dilatation of the airspaces, in excess of the dimensions predicted on the basis of age. Study of the standard deviations of the mean linear intercepts showed that the airspace dilatation was more regular than in emphysematous lungs; in addition, there was no clear-cut destruction, as estimated from the number of alveolar attachments. These lungs were characterized in addition by an increased thickening of alveolar septa, without inflammation or fibrosis, normal size of the diameter, and reduced density of the membranous bronchioles. Since these lungs were from people older than 60 years, it is assumed that they represent cases of exaggerated airspace enlargement of the aging lung, differing from emphysema by the absence of destruction of alveolar walls. The term "senile lung" is proposed or this condition.
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A decline in elastic recoil combined with a reduction in the number of elastic attachments of supporting alveoli and increased collagen results in smaller airways closing at higher lung volumes.
“A decline in elastic recoil combined with a reduction in the number of elastic attachments of supporting alveoli and increased collagen results in smaller airways closing at higher lung volumes (9, 10).”
From Aging and Lung Disease (2020) · cites this paper as [10]
Normal lung aging is associated with multiple structural and functional changes in the respiratory tract.
“Normal lung aging is associated with multiple structural and functional changes in the respiratory tract (6, 10).”
From Aging and Lung Disease (2020) · cites this paper as [10]
Many of these changes give rise to decreased lung function, altered pulmonary remodeling, diminished regeneration, and enhanced susceptibility to pulmonary disease.
“Many of these changes, as highlighted in Figure 1, give rise to decreased lung function, altered pulmonary remodeling, diminished regeneration, and enhanced susceptibility to pulmonary disease (7, 10).”
From Aging and Lung Disease (2020) · cites this paper as [10]
Age-associated changes in the structure, function, and control of the respiratory system can greatly influence COPD susceptibility in older persons.
“Age-associated changes in the structure, function, and control of the respiratory system can greatly influence COPD susceptibility in older persons (6–10).”
From Aging and Lung Disease (2020) · cites this paper as [10]
Many anatomical and physiological changes seen in COPD, such as airspace dilation resulting from loss of supporting tissue without alveolar wall destruction, have also been described in the similarly aged lungs of nonsmokers, illustrating that the process of aging is a contributing factor for disease progression.
“Interestingly, many of the anatomical and physiological changes seen in COPD, such as airspace dilation resulting from loss of supporting tissue without alveolar wall destruction, have also been described in the similarly aged lungs of nonsmokers, further illustrating that the process of aging is a contributing factor for disease progression (Figure 2) (7, 10, 16).”
From Aging and Lung Disease (2020) · cites this paper as [10]
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References 71 · Cited by 289
- Authors
- Verbeken, E. K., Cauberghs, M., Mertens, I., Clement, J., Lauweryns, J. M., & Van de Woestijne, K. P.
- Affiliations
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven (BE)
- ORCID
- Verbeken, Erik K.
- Venue
- Chest
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1992-03
- Volume
- 101
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 793-799
- ISSN
- 0012-3692 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2000198726
- Cited by
- 289
- References
- 71
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 4.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- CHEST Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Occupational and environmental lung diseases
- Keywords
- lung aging, lung parenchyma, airspace enlargement, emphysema, alveolar septa thickening, structural-functional correlation, human lung
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aging, Bronchi, Humans, Lung, Middle Aged, Pulmonary Emphysema
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