Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) Practice Exam

Restrictive lung disease refers specifically to conditions that limit the expansion of the lungs, resulting in reduced lung volumes. This means the lungs cannot fully inflate, leading to a decrease in total lung capacity and a variety of other pulmonary function measurements. The underlying causes can include diseases affecting the lung tissue itself, such as pulmonary fibrosis, or external factors like pleural effusion or neuromuscular conditions that impair respiratory mechanics.

In contrast, conditions that restrict airflow through the bronchi are categorized as obstructive lung diseases, which primarily involve difficulty exhaling air from the lungs. Excessive mucus production is also not a characteristic of restrictive diseases, as it is more associated with obstructive conditions where mucus accumulation contributes to airflow obstruction. Lastly, an increase in lung capacity describes a different pathological state and does not relate to restrictive lung diseases, which fundamentally involve a decrease in lung volumes. Thus, defining restrictive lung disease as a condition that limits lung expansion and reduces lung volumes is accurate and captures the essence of these disorders.