A chest formed like a barrel, caused by asthma or emphysema.
Large, rounded chest that is normal in some stocky persons and in some persons living in high- altitude areas where the oxygen content of the air is low, but is abnormal in others; often a sign of emphysema.
An increase in the anteroposterior diameter of the chest such that it resembles a barrel rather than a normal oval shape.
An increased anteroposterior chest diameter caused by increased functional residual capacity, which in turn results from airway narrowing and a loss of lung elasticity. It is most often seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (i.e., chronic bronchitis and emphysema).
In individuals with long-standing emphysema, characterized by enlarged air sacs in the lungs, a prominent and rounded chest may develop. This alteration in chest shape is often attributed to lung distension, which increases the distance between the front and back of the chest. As a result, the chest wall undergoes a noticeable change in its overall shape.