Mechanisms of normal and abnormal pulmonary development
Year: 2001
Type: dissertation
Abstract: One of the prerequisites of life is the process of respiration in which an organism\\nexchanges carbon dioxide for oxygen in order to obtain energy through the oxygenation\\nof molecules containing carbon. The interfaces used by different organisms for gas\\nexchange vary from simple diffusion between prokaryotic bacteria and the medium in\\nwhich they reside, to a much more complex diffusible interface, namely a gas-exchanging\\norgan also known as the lung used by higher eukaryotes, such as humans. The human\\nlungs have an estimated 300.000.000 alveoli with a surface area of approximately 70 m2\\nby 0.1 flm in early adulthood (Comroe, 1965; Weibel, 1963) and is comprised of at least\\n40 differentiated cell types. The alveolar surface of the lung is surrounded by a capillary\\nnetwork that develops in close apposition. This enables gas exchange to occur with the\\nblood that delivers the oxygen to the tissues. Therefore a 70 kg adult human can use 14.5\\nL oxygen per hour or 1020 molecules per second at rest. The oxygen demand can rise to\\napproximately 330 L per hour during exercise (Comroe, 1965; Weibel, 1963). To\\nestablish such a highly complex organ, well-orchestrated cell interactions are required\\nduring development to generate a functional lung.
Author: Richard Keijzer
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1774090712