THE ADAPTATION OF THE LUNG CIRCULATION TO THE VENTILATION

In normal circumstances 55 per cent. of the total blood supply to the lungs of the rabbit is directed to the right and 45 per cent. to the left lung. On lowering the alveolar oxygen tension in one lung its blood circulation may be gradually reduced to less than half of the original value. while the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inExperimental physiology Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 213 - 226
Main Authors Dirken, M. N. J., Heemstra, H.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England The Physiological Society 01.01.1948
Subjects
Humans
Lung - physiology
Pulmonary Circulation
Respiration
Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
LUNGS/physiology
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Summary:In normal circumstances 55 per cent. of the total blood supply to the lungs of the rabbit is directed to the right and 45 per cent. to the left lung. On lowering the alveolar oxygen tension in one lung its blood circulation may be gradually reduced to less than half of the original value. while the circulation of the other lung shows a corresponding increase. A drop in the alveolar oxygen percentage of 2 to 2·5 per cent. in one lung may reduce the blood-flow by 15 per cent. of the original value. The significance of these results with reference to an adaptation of the circulation to the unequal ventilation of the lungs is discussed.
ISSN:0958-0670
0033-5541
0144-8757
1469-445X
DOI:10.1113/expphysiol.1948.sp000930