Abstract The sections in this article are: Why is Stress Distribution Nonuniform? Why is it Important to Know Stress Distribution? Simplifications Introduced to Analysis of Stress Distribution Relationship Between Microscopic Structure and Macroscopic Properties Material Properties of Lung Parenchyma Meaning of Other Elastic Constants Implications of Relative Magnitudes of Bulk and Shear Moduli Macroscopic Lung Stress Distribution Local Stress Distribution