A Mathematical Physiological Model of the Pulmonary Ventilation

This paper presents a model of the lung mechanics and simulates the pulmonary alveolar ventilation. The model includes the alveolar geometry and distribution and pressures exerted by the chest wall, due to surface tension affected by surfactant activity, due to lung tissue elasticity and due to the hydrostatic effects of the lung tissue and blood utilizing a stratified subdivision of the lungs. The model simulates a heterogenous ventilation distribution down the lungs in agreement with experimental studies. Furthermore the model is in agreement with experimentally measured hysteresis, static lung compliance, lung volumes and density distribution at different lung volumes. The presented model is the first to simulate alveolar ventilation including all of the above mentioned components of the respiratory system.