Question: If a person experiences a severe decrease in the surface area of the respiratory membrane due to lung disease, how would this impact the efficiency of gas exchange during external respiration? Need Assignment Help? Select one: a. Gas exchange efficiency would remain unaffected as diffusion is independent of surface area. b. Gas exchange efficiency would increase due to a faster diffusion rate. c. Gas exchange efficiency would decrease ue to a slower diffusion rate. d. Gas exchange efficiency would decrease due to a decrease in partial pressure difference.