Steady pressure-flow relationship of a model of the canine bronchial tree

Static pressure differences (deltaP) across the entire length and portions of a latex reproduction of a canine bronchial tree were measured during steady inspiratory or expiratory flow (V). The reproduction consists of a 10-cm length of trachea through bronchi of about 2 mm in diameter. The airflow was simulated by a water flow with tracheal Renolds number (Re0) in the range from 1,500 to 10,000. Loss in total pressure (deltaPt) was computed by summing deltaPt and V were well described (r greater than 0.98) by a dimensionless Rohrer equation deltaPt/deltaPd0 = A + B Re0 applicable to gas flow, in which deltaPd0 is a Poiseuille pressure drop. For expiratory deltaPt, A was about twice that for inspiration, while the values for B were nearly equal. Differences in kinetic energy between sites of static pressure measurement are important in determining loss in total pressure. Rohrer's equation is a good approximation to the phenomenological laws of steady inspiratory and expiratory flow-pressure relations in the canine bronchial tree for the range of Reynolds number investigated.