ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the external pulmonary respiration dealing with the input of atmospheric air (rich in O2) and output of bodily air (rich in CO2) (Fig. 1), as well as the transport of gases by the red blood cells (RBCs) (erythrocytes) throughout the body and their gas exchanges at the tissue level. Changes that may occur with old age in the structure and the function of the lungs are described in the first section. These changes (i) may result from environmental insults, (ii) may contribute to alterations of pulmonary O2 uptake and CO2 excretion, and (iii) may represent the cause of some of the respiratory diseases prevalent in the elderly.
