A METHOD FOR SEPARATING THE AIR BREATHED BY THE RIGHT AND LEFT LUNGS, TOGETHER WITH THE EFFECT OF PULMONARY CIRCULATORY CHANGES ON THIS DIVIDED BREATHING

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In a study of the effect of changes in the pulmonary circulation on the tidal air, a naturally breathing cat was prepared so that each lung moved its air through a separate air-way and the expired air from the two lungs was collected in different spirometers. The pulmonary circulation was altered by temporary occlusion of either branch of the pulmonary artery, or either set of pulmonary veins; and the volume of air moved by each lung was recorded. No change of significance was found in the relative volume of air moved by the 2 lungs after occlusion of 1 branch of the pulmonary artery. Following the occlusion of the left pulmonary veins, the left lung showed a marked increase in its relative ventilation, in one instance from 45 to 75% and in another from 33 to 74% of the total minute-volume. If distention of the capillaries in a portion of the lung is attended by this increase in the corresponding alveolar air-space, such an increase in volume may be made possible by encroachment on adjacent areas of lung. The mechanism involved in this relationship may be an active force in the production of compensatory emphysema.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: