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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

A Microfluidic Model of Biomimetically Breathing Pulmonary Acinar Airways
Published on: May 9, 2016
Gas and aerosol mixing in the acinus
Akira Tsuda1, Frank S Henry, James P Butler
1Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. atsuda@hsph.harvard.edu
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.
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