Gas and Aerosol Mixing in the Acinus

Overview

Journal Respir Physiol Neurobiol

Specialty Pulmonary Medicine

Date 2008 Apr 9

PMID 18396469

Citations 27

Authors

Akira Tsuda

Frank S Henry

James P Butler

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This review is concerned with mixing and transport in the human pulmonary acinus. We first examine the current understanding of the anatomy of the acinus and introduce elements of fluid mechanics used to characterize the transport of momentum, gas and aerosol particles. We then review gas transport in more detail and highlight some areas of current research. Next we turn our attention to aerosol transport and in particular to mixing within the alveoli. We examine the factors influencing the level of mixing, review the concept of chaotic convective mixing, and make some brief comments on how mixing affects particle deposition. We end with a few comments on some issues unique to the neonatal and developing lung.

Citing Articles

A new computational framework for simulating airway resistance, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, and diffusing capacity for nitric oxide.

Haut B, Karamaoun C, Rigaut C PLoS One. 2025; 20(1):e0311667.

PMID: 39883668 PMC: 11781630. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311667.

Influence of alveolar mixing and multiple breaths of aerosol intake on particle deposition in the human lungs.

Asgharian B, Price O, Borojeni A, Kuprat A, Colby S, Singh R J Aerosol Sci. 2022; 166.

PMID: 36405567 PMC: 9671400. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2022.106050.

Surface tension effects on flow dynamics and alveolar mechanics in the acinar region of human lung.

Francis I, Saha S Heliyon. 2022; 8(10):e11026.

PMID: 36281407 PMC: 9587277. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11026.

Microflows in two-generation alveolar cells at an acinar bifurcation.

Yang Y, Bai W, Dong J, Lv H, Zhu Y Biomicrofluidics. 2022; 16(5):054101.

PMID: 36097514 PMC: 9451617. DOI: 10.1063/5.0098302.

Recent advances in the understanding of alveolar flow.

Dong J, Yang Y, Zhu Y Biomicrofluidics. 2022; 16(2):021502.

PMID: 35464135 PMC: 9010052. DOI: 10.1063/5.0084415.

References

Tsuda A, Henry F, Butler J . Chaotic mixing of alveolated duct flow in rhythmically expanding pulmonary acinus. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1995; 79(3):1055-63. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1995.79.3.1055. View

Zeltner T, Caduff J, Gehr P, Pfenninger J, Burri P . The postnatal development and growth of the human lung. I. Morphometry. Respir Physiol. 1987; 67(3):247-67. DOI: 10.1016/0034-5687(87)90057-0. View

Weibel E, Sapoval B, Filoche M . Design of peripheral airways for efficient gas exchange. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2005; 148(1-2):3-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2005.03.005. View

Schreider J, Raabe O . Structure of the human respiratory acinus. Am J Anat. 1981; 162(3):221-32. DOI: 10.1002/aja.1001620304. View

Gehr P, Bachofen M, Weibel E . The normal human lung: ultrastructure and morphometric estimation of diffusion capacity. Respir Physiol. 1978; 32(2):121-40. DOI: 10.1016/0034-5687(78)90104-4. View

Hansen J, Ampaya E . Human air space shapes, sizes, areas, and volumes. J Appl Physiol. 1975; 38(6):990-5. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1975.38.6.990. View

Cinkotai F . Fluid flow in a model alveolar sac. J Appl Physiol. 1974; 37(2):249-51. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1974.37.2.249. View

Scherer P, Shendalman L, Greene N, Bouhuys A . Measurement of axial diffusivities in a model of the bronchial airways. J Appl Physiol. 1975; 38(4):719-23. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1975.38.4.719. View

Hansen J, Ampaya E, Bryant G, NAVIN J . Branching pattern of airways and air spaces of a single human terminal bronchiole. J Appl Physiol. 1975; 38(6):983-9. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1975.38.6.983. View

10.

Gil J, Bachofen H, Gehr P, Weibel E . Alveolar volume-surface area relation in air- and saline-filled lungs fixed by vascular perfusion. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1979; 47(5):990-1001. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1979.47.5.990. View

11.

Burri P . Structural aspects of postnatal lung development - alveolar formation and growth. Biol Neonate. 2006; 89(4):313-22. DOI: 10.1159/000092868. View

12.

Tsuda A, Otani Y, Butler J . Acinar flow irreversibility caused by perturbations in reversible alveolar wall motion. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1999; 86(3):977-84. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1999.86.3.977. View

13.

WOMERSLEY J . Method for the calculation of velocity, rate of flow and viscous drag in arteries when the pressure gradient is known. J Physiol. 1955; 127(3):553-63. PMC: 1365740. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1955.sp005276. View

14.

PUMP K . Morphology of the acinus of the human lung. Dis Chest. 1969; 56(2):126-34. DOI: 10.1378/chest.56.2.126. View

15.

Musch G, Layfield J, Harris R, Melo M, Winkler T, Callahan R . Topographical distribution of pulmonary perfusion and ventilation, assessed by PET in supine and prone humans. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2002; 93(5):1841-51. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00223.2002. View

16.

Henry F, Butler J, Tsuda A . Kinematically irreversible acinar flow: a departure from classical dispersive aerosol transport theories. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2002; 92(2):835-45. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00385.2001. View

17.

Darquenne C, Paiva M . One-dimensional simulation of aerosol transport and deposition in the human lung. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1994; 77(6):2889-98. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1994.77.6.2889. View

18.

Engel L . Gas mixing within the acinus of the lung. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1983; 54(3):609-18. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1983.54.3.609. View

19.

Taulbee D, Yu C . A theory of aerosol deposition in the human respiratory tract. J Appl Physiol. 1975; 38(1):77-85. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1975.38.1.77. View

20.

FOWLER W . Lung function studies; the respiratory dead space. Am J Physiol. 1948; 154(3):405-16. DOI: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1948.154.3.405. View