Lungs as a natural porous media: architecture, airflow characteristics and transport of suspended particles

Abstract

Lungs are natural porous structures that are unique, challenging, and high-value media to study. There are multiple drivers to obtain an improved understanding of their architecture and function: to increase high-value information and insights that can be applied in healthcare, to devise control strategies that will limit some hazards effects, and to expand boundaries of what is known that can be applied to produce new (improved) materials. This chapter covers three major topics: shape and structure of lungs, airflow characteristics and the inter-action of suspension of particles with the respiratory tract. It is focused on the biological and physical mechanisms involved, in the hope that this will allow an overview of the science related to the respiratory tract.