Convective exchange between the nose and the atmosphere

Abstract

It is generally accepted that there is little rebreathing of gas exhaled through the nose. A detailed physical model system has been used to quantify and identify the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon. By the use of a cast of the upper respiratory tract and oscillating flows with a Reynolds number of 500 and nondimensional frequency of 1.6, corresponding to quiet tidal breathing through the nose, dye dilution measurements indicated an efficiency of tidal exchange of 0.95. Flow visualization studies performed to trace the expiratory flow, as well as the streamlines during steady inspiratory flow, support the hypothesis that the high efficiency of exchange is due to radical differences in the velocity fields between inspiratory and expiratory phases of this oscillatory flow. These findings confirm that convective gas exchange between the nose and the atmosphere is highly efficient; however, the underlying mechanism responsible for this exchange also maximizes the exposure of the respiratory system to aerosols contained in the ambient atmosphere.