Abstract

A theoretical model of the movement of aerosols in the lungs is proposed. The model is based upon the transport equations taking into account the aerosol inertial deposition processes. Particles move along curvilinear trajectories in self-twisted vortex air flows. Deposition occurs over several cycles of inhalation and exhalation. This mechanism works for particles with a diameter greater than 1–2 microns. All particles with a diameter of 4 microns and more are captured in the respiratory tract before the terminal bronchioles. Only particles with a size of less than 2 microns can penetrate into the respiratory parts of the lungs, but the cleaning coefficient for them is close to unity. The lung cleaning model describes the limiting capabilities of the mucociliarу system. The importance of taking into account the temporal characteristics of the mucociliary escalation of dust deposited in the lungs has been demonstrated. The existence of a mode of accumulation of particles in the lungs, due to a lack of cleaning time during periodic dust exposure, has been established.

Keywords: modeling, human lung, airways, swirling flow, particle deposition, distribution of aerosols, mucociliary clearance, particle transport, accumulation
