A statistical description of the human tracheobronchial tree geometry

Abstract

Most physiological studies which make use of lung geometry have utilized average deterministic models of the tracheobronchial tree geometry, such as Weibel's Model A (1963). However, as shown by morphometric studies, it is well known that there are significant inter-subject and intra-subject variabilities in the structural components of the human lung. Hence, inherent inaccuracies exist when deterministic dimensions for lung geometry are used. In this paper, a statistical description of the lung geometry is presented, Using Weibel's Model A as the underlying average model, probability distributions for the lengths and the diameters of airways and for the number and volume of alveoli are proposed based on morphometric data. As a check for consistency, the probability distribution of the functional residual capacity is derived from those associated with airways and alveoli and it is compared with reported data. Results of this comparison are favorable, suggesting that the statistical description presented herein represents a self-consistent model for lung geometry which can be used for studies of problems related to pulmonary physiology.