What condition is indicated by decreased lung compliance and difficulty in lung expansion?

Decreased lung compliance and difficulty in lung expansion are hallmark characteristics of restrictive lung disorders. In these conditions, the lungs and chest wall are unable to expand fully, leading to reduced volumes of air that can be inhaled. This can result from intrinsic issues within the lung tissue, such as pulmonary fibrosis, or from extrinsic factors affecting the chest wall, like obesity or scoliosis.

In contrast, obstructive lung disorders, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are characterized by increased resistance in the airways during expiration, which does not primarily affect compliance. These conditions tend to lead to difficulty in expelling air, rather than in expanding the lungs during inhalation.

Coronary artery disease primarily affects the heart and blood vessels, not the lung mechanics, so it does not relate to lung compliance or expansion issues. Thus, the focus on lung expansion difficulties and compliance directly points to the defining features of restrictive lung disorders.