An optimal bronchial tree may be dangerous

B. Mauroy, M. Filoche, E. R. Weibel and B. Sapoval ()
Additional contact information
B. Mauroy: Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan
M. Filoche: Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan
E. R. Weibel: University of Bern
B. Sapoval: Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan

Nature, 2004, vol. 427, issue 6975, 633-636

Abstract: Abstract The geometry and dimensions of branched structures such as blood vessels or airways are important factors in determining the efficiency of physiological processes. It has been shown that fractal trees can be space filling1 and can ensure minimal dissipation2,3,4. The bronchial tree of most mammalian lungs is a good example of an efficient distribution system with an approximate fractal structure5,6. Here we present a study of the compatibility between physical optimization and physiological robustness in the design of the human bronchial tree. We show that this physical optimization is critical in the sense that small variations in the geometry can induce very large variations in the net air flux. Maximum physical efficiency therefore cannot be a sufficient criterion for the physiological design of bronchial trees. Rather, the design of bronchial trees must be provided with a safety factor and the capacity for regulating airway calibre. Paradoxically, our results suggest that bronchial malfunction related to asthma is a necessary consequence of the optimized efficiency of the tree structure.

Date: 2004
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature02287 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:nature:v:427:y:2004:i:6975:d:10.1038_nature02287

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/

DOI: 10.1038/nature02287

Access Statistics for this article

Nature is currently edited by Magdalena Skipper

More articles in Nature from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().