Final answer:
Compliance refers to the ease with which the lungs can be distended. It is a measurement of the elasticity of the lung. Alterations in compliance can affect breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compliance refers to the ease with which the lungs can be distended, or expanded. It is a measurement of the elasticity of the lung. If the compliance of the lung decreases, as in restrictive diseases like fibrosis, the airways become stiff and collapse, making breathing more difficult. On the other hand, if the compliance increases, as in diseases like emphysema, the lungs become more distensible, leading to difficulties in exhaling.