Lungs are one of the largest organs in the body. This visual representation illustrates how lungs work normally and how they work when affected by emphysema. For people with emphysema - a severe form of COPD - lung tissue is damaged and loses its resilience so there is less pull on the airways. When the lungs lack resilience, they cannot fully push out air. Instead, some air remains trapped in the air sacs. Emphysema destroys the walls between the alveoli leaving the lungs less able to absorb ox