Effect of gaseous interaction between lung units on the expired concentration of nitrogen

There is debate over the mechanisms that produce the alveolar slope, with theories relating to both series and parallel inhomogeneity being proposed. We use a mathematical model of pulmonary gas transport, which incorporates both series and parallel effects, to investigate the relevance of each in the production of this alveolar slope. Interaction between lung units is specifically studied by simulating mixing at both proximal- and distal-branch points in the bronchial tree. During expiration mixing of the gas from inhomogeneous parallel lung units leads to concentration gradients within each unit. The resultant effect on the concentration of the expirate depends on the position in the bronchial tree at which this mixing takes place; proximal interaction alters the initial phase of the expired concentration profile, whereas distal interaction changes the magnitude of the alveolar slope. The net effect of distal interaction is to produce a greater alveolar slope for gases with low molecular diffusivity. These effects are present even in the absence of asynchronous emptying of lung units but may be enhanced by it. These results help to clarify controversies about the mechanisms underlying production of the alveolar slope.