Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026

A Microfluidic Model of Biomimetically Breathing Pulmonary Acinar Airways
Published on: May 9, 2016
Modeling soluble gas exchange in the airways and alveoli
Joseph C Anderson1, Albert L Babb, Michael P Hlastala
1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Abstract:
A mathematical model of heat, water and soluble gas exchange in the airways and alveoli was used to predict the location of soluble gas exchange in the lung. A previously published model of heat, water and soluble gas exchange in the airways was improved by incorporating anatomical data on the airway wall to better describe the bronchial circulation and expanding the model to include a time varying description of soluble gas concentration in the alveoli. Next, the model was validated using two experimental data sets from the literature: (1) ethanol expirograms and (2) the uptake of seven soluble gases. Then, the model simulated the excretion of ten soluble gases whose blood:air partition coefficient (lambda(b:a)), a measure of blood solubility, ranged over 5 orders of magnitude. We found that gases with lambda(b:a) < 10 exchange almost solely in the alveoli and gases with lambda(b:a) > 100 exchange almost exclusively in the airways. Gases with lambda(b:a) between 10 and 100 have significant interaction with the airways and alveoli. These results suggest that the airways play a larger role in pulmonary gas exchange than previously assumed and may require a reevaluation of pulmonary tests that involve exhaled samples of gases with lambda(b:a) > 10.
Related Concept Videos
Alveoli and Alveolar Ducts
External and Internal Respiration
Gas Exchange and Transport
Breathing
The Respiratory System
Respiration and Gaseous Exchange
Respiration involves the exchange of gases, especially oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), between the alveoli and body cells, a process facilitated by blood circulation. As a result, the cardiovascular system, which involves the...
