Modeling the Anatomical Differences in Human Lungs

Ammad Amin, Firas

4. term

Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Master

2011

2011-06-01

102 pages

Understanding the lung mechanics and gas ex- change in healthy human lungs might be a step forwards in the way of understanding diseased lungs. One way to do that is by modeling the entire lung including the effect of gravity on dis- tribution of ventilation and perfusion down the lungs. However, gravity has been estimated to cause a minor effect on perfusion distribution. The aim of this study is to use a model of per- fusion designed by Mogensen et al. (2010) to in- vestigate the hypothesis that anatomical differ- ences in the lungs have the major effect on per- fusion distribution down the lungs. To be able to answer this hypothesis, the study has imple- mented two anatomical gradients, namely length and number of capillaries surrounding the alveoli. By adjusting these gradients, the model is cali- brated to fit an experimental data measured by Jones et al. (2001) describing distribution of per- fusion in supine position. The hypothesis is then investigated, experimenting the perfusion distri- bution In silico in prone posture to evaluate the effect of the anatomical difference on distribution heterogeneity in the lungs. The result of the ex- periment is in agreement with studies suggesting that the distribution pattern of pulmonary perfu- sion is due anatomical differences in the lungs.

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