Postnatal Growth of the Lung

Abstract

A quantitative study of postnatal lung growth has been made and shows that the number of alveoli increases over tenfold between birth and adult life. This increase occurs mainly in the first eight years. After this age, increase in lung volume takes place by increase in linear dimensions of existing alveoli. The mean number of generations of airways increases from 21 to 23, from 3 months to 8 years of age. This increase takes place in the most distal respiratory airways. There is a linear relationship between the surface area of the air-tissue interface and the body surface area during the period of growth. It is suggested that information of this type may well be useful in assessing such conditions as pulmonary hypoplasia, respiratory syndrome of the newborn, and the lung in prematurity. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: Author