Biotransport in the human respiratory system

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Elad, David^{; *}

Affiliations: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence should be sent to: Prof. David Elad, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. Tel.: +972 3 640 8476; Fax: +972 3 640 7939; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: The human respiratory system is an ‘open’ organ, which is designed to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between the circulating blood and the external environment. This gas exchange is successfully accomplished via a set of transport phenomena comprised of oscillatory air flow, heat and water vapor exchange, mucus transport and air-blood gas exchange all of which take place in a complex geometry that undergoes large changes. These transport phenomena occur simultaneously to supply the body’s need for oxygen in different physiological conditions and/or environments, while defending it from external hazards. The need for better comprehension of the mechanisms involved in pulmonary diseases and for advanced techniques for both diagnosis and intervention stimulated numerous studies of the different biotransport processes that take place in the human respiratory system.

Keywords: Pulmonary gas exchange, nasal physiology, mucus, diffusion capacity, biofluid

DOI: 10.3233/THC-1999-7403

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 271-284, 1999