Transport Phenomena in the Human Nasal Cavity: A Computational Model

AbstractNasal inspiration is important for maintaining the internal milieu of the lung, since ambient air is conditioned to nearly alveolar conditions (body temperature and fully saturated with water vapor) on reaching the nasopharynx. We conducted a two-dimensional computational study of transport phenomena in model transverse cross sections of the nasal cavity of normal and diseased human noses for inspiration under various ambient conditions. The results suggest that during breathing via the normal human nose there is ample time for heat and water exchange to enable equilibration to near intraalveolar conditions. A normal nose can maintain this equilibrium under extreme environments (e.g., hot/humid, cold/dry, cold/humid). The turbinates increase the rate of local heat and moisture transport by narrowing the passageways for air and by induction of laminar swirls downstream of the turbinate wall. However, abnormal blood supply or mucous generation may reduce the rate of heat or moisture flux into the inspired air, and thereby affect the efficacy of the process. © 1998 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC98: 8745Hw, 8710+e

[1]  G. Saidel,et al.  Model simulation of heat and water transport dynamics in an airway. , 1983, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[2]  E. R. Mcfadden,et al.  Respiratory heat and water exchange: physiological and clinical implications. , 1983, Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology.

[3]  P. Cole.  Further Observations on the Conditioning of Respiratory Air , 1953, The Journal of Laryngology & Otology.

[4]  N. Watkins,et al.  Respiratory heat exchange in mammals. , 1989, Respiration physiology.

[5]  P WEBB,et al.  Air temperatures in respiratory tracts of resing subjects in cold. , 1951, Journal of applied physiology.

[6]  P. Scherer,et al.  Measurement of local mass transfer coefficients in a cast model of the human upper respiratory tract. , 1986, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[7]  M. M. Mozell,et al.  A mass transport model of olfaction. , 1994, Journal of theoretical biology.

[8]  M. M. Mozell,et al.  Velocity profiles measured for airflow through a large-scale model of the human nasal cavity. , 1993, Journal of applied physiology.

[9]  P COLE,et al.  Some Aspects of Temperature, Moisture And Heat Relationships in The Upper Respiratory Tract , 1953, The Journal of Laryngology & Otology.

[10]  I. R. Morris.  Functional anatomy of the upper airway. , 1988, Emergency medicine clinics of North America.

[11]  P. Scherer,et al.  A theoretical model of localized heat and water vapor transport in the human respiratory tract. , 1986, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[12]  R. Farley,et al.  Comparison of air warming in the human airway with a thermodynamic model , 1988, Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing.

[13]  Edward L. Fox,et al.  The Physiological Basis for Exercise and Sport , 1993 .

[14]  E. Bilgen,et al.  Experimental Study of Velocity Fields in a Human Nasal Fossa by Laser Anemometry , 1983, Rhinology.

[15]  M. M. Mozell,et al.  Numerical simulation of airflow in the human nasal cavity. , 1995, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[16]  S. Einav,et al.  Analysis of air flow patterns in the human nose , 1993, Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing.

[17]  Donald F. Proctor,et al.  The Nose, upper airway physiology and the atmospheric environment , 1982 .

[18]  M Girardin,et al.  Experimental study of velocity fields in a human nasal fossa by laser anemometry. , 1983, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[19]  Morrison Ir.  Functional anatomy of the upper airway. , 1988 .

[20]  P. Scherer,et al.  Heat and Water Transport in the Human Respiratory System , 1985 .

[21]  C. E. Johnson,et al.  Heat and water vapor transport in the human upper airways at hyperbaric conditions. , 1983, Journal of biomechanical engineering.

[22]  H. Chang,et al.  Correlations between flow resistance and geometry in a model of the human nose. , 1993, Journal of applied physiology.

[23]  B. Drettner,et al.  Measurements of the air conditioning capacity of the nose during normal and pathological conditions and pharmacological influence. , 1977, Acta oto-laryngologica.

[24]  P. M. Stell,et al.  Clinical anatomy of the nose, nasal cavity, and paranasal sinuses , 1989 .

[25]  G. Saidel,et al.  Water vapour and temperature dynamics in the upper airways of normal and CF subjects. , 1988, The European respiratory journal.

[26]  I Gonda,et al.  Mathematical modeling of heat and water transport in human respiratory tract. , 1990, Journal of applied physiology.

[27]  S INGELSTEDT,et al.  Studies on the conditioning of air in the respiratory tract. , 1956, Acta oto-laryngologica. Supplementum.

[28]  W. Kreyling,et al.  A method for the approximation of the relative humidity in the upper human airways. , 1985, Bulletin of mathematical biology.