Lung Defense Mechanisms

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Abstract
(First of Two Parts)One of the most important functions of the lung, aside from its role in gas exchange and metabolism, is the provision of an essential biologic barrier between man and his environment.1 Of fundamental importance is the way in which the airways and lung parenchyma prevent entry of and neutralize or remove injurious agents, tasks performed so efficiently that the lung is normally sterile from the first bronchial division to terminal lung units.Aerodynamic FiltrationInhaled particles may be deposited in the respiratory tract as a result of impaction, sedimentation, Brownian motion,2 turbulent diffusion3 and, to a . . .