Anatomical Dead Space

This anatomical dead space can increase dramatically in some diseases, such as the destruction of the alveoli during emphysema. In this case, a large part of the inhaled air remains in lung areas that do not participate in the gas exchange; a large part of the breathing volume is, so to speak, "wasted". The patient can compensate for this by breathing more often and deeply (the wheezing of the emphysema patient).