Abstract
THE deposition of aerosols in the lungs of man during breathing constitutes an important mechanism for the entry of toxins or pathogenic organisms to the body. The respiratory tract is protected by an efficient ciliary mechanism for the rapid removal of particles deposited in the upper airways. Particles reaching the alveolar regions are removed more slowly. There are three mechanisms whereby inhaled particles are deposited on the walls of the airways—inertial impaction, sedimentation by gravity, and diffusion due to Brownian motion. The dimensions of the airways are such that large particles are deposited in the upper airway and have no opportunity of reaching the alveoli.
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MUIR, D. Aerosol Deposition in the Lungs of Space Travellers. Nature 209, 921 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/209921a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/209921a0
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