Abstract
Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems is essential to appreciate the dynamics of bubbles in the body, including the structure of arterial and venous vessels, cell membranes and the transport of gases. Bubbles may be spherical, but if larger than the diameter of an enclosing vessel will become “sausage-shaped” (cylindrical with hemispherical end-caps). Microbubbles and microparticles play important roles in decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism (AGE). Bubbles may be stabilized by a surrounding skin of molecules and thereby persist much longer than would be expected otherwise. The pulmonary bubble filter is a crucial defense against venous bubbles entering the arterial circulation, but may be bypassed by a patent foramen ovale and other mechanisms. The uptake and elimination of inert gases may be described by “washin” and “washout” exponentials. The appendix describes fundamental concepts of gas pressures in the body.
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