Some problems of the morphogenesis of bullous emphysema of the lungs

The analysis of 93 cases of bullous pulmonary emphysema provided evidence for the significance of valvular mechanism of bulla formation operable at two levels: in small bronchi and bronchioles on the one hand and in the area of subpleural fibrosis on the other hand, the latter arising in the result of subpleural atelectasis or subpleural carnificating pneumonia. Relevant pathology is characterized by peripheral acinus situated tangentially to the pleural surface. Electron-microscopic examination revealed pneumocytes of the second type on the internal bulla surface.