The Postural Affect on the Distribution of Microbubbles in the Lungs; A Model Study
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Date
2015-06
Authors
Earthman, Lauren
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Intrapulmonary arteriovenous anastomoses, (IPAVAs) are pathways located in the lungs that provide an alternate route for blood to travel though. Blood that travels through IPAVAs may not participate in gas exchange. We know that these paths exist, but their exact location in the lungs is unknown. With the use of microbubbles and macroaggregates of albumin (MAA) research was done that attempted to determine the size and location of IPAVAs. My research specifically looked at the routes that microbubbles take when they enter into the lungs and how this may relate to the routes bubbles take in the lungs when the lung is upright or supine. The results of this study suggest that when a subject is lying on their back bubbles should be distributed evenly throughout the lungs. Conversely, when a subject is sitting upright the same amount of bubbles float towards the top of the lungs as travel to the bottom, despite differences in the distribution of blood flow.
Description
39 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Human Physiology and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Science, Spring 2015.
Keywords
Human physiology, Biology, Bubble physics, Lung model, Pulmonary, Lung blood flow