The ribs become more horizontal and dorsal kyphosis is present in the majority of cases. Other findings include prominent sternum, elevated clavicles, shortened neck, and widened intercostal spaces. Barrel-shaped chest is usually seen in advanced emphysema. Aging can also produce barrel-shaped deformity of the chest without any lung disease (Sarkar et al., 2019). Barrel chest occurs when your lungs overinflate with air due to damage from a lung condition. This causes the lungs and rib cage to stay expanded, giving your chest a rounded, barrel-shaped shape. Treatments include pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, and more. When the lungs experience damage from COPD over time, this can cause breathing difficulties and cause the lungs and rib cage to remain expanded. In healthy lungs, during inhalation, your lungs expand wide to take in air. Tiny blood vessels in the alveoli of your lungs exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. During exhalation, your rib cage constricts while you release carbon dioxide. In lungs with COPD, however, the airways become inflamed, which causes swelling. Extra mucus also clogs the
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