Computational fluid dynamics simulations of inspiratory airflow in the human nose and nasopharynx
Computational fluid dynamics simulations of inspiratory airflow in the human nose and nasopharynx
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DOI：
10.1080/089583798197772
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发表时间：
1998-02-01
影响因子：
2.1
通讯作者：
Guilmette, RA
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Subramaniam, RP;Richardson, RB;Guilmette, RA
由于鼻呼吸生理学和气道解剖学的物种间差异很大，因此将实验室动物吸入的异生物质的区域剂量外推到人类以评估人类健康风险是有问题的。需要能够针对上呼吸道中的这些差异进行调整的剂量测定模型。目前的工作扩展了以前的努力，在这个实验室和其他地方模拟鼻腔气流分布在实验室动物和人类的数字。一个三维的，解剖学上准确的成年人鼻腔和鼻咽的代表。使用流体动力学软件包FIDAP，在模拟休息和轻度运动的稳态吸气条件下（稳态吸气流速：分别为15 L/min和26 L/min），使用有限元法求解气流的Navier-Stokes方程和连续性方程。模拟的气流在鼻腔主要通道呈流线型，在前庭和鼻咽部呈复杂型。在鼻前庭中预测了旋转气流和再循环流，并且在鼻咽处的膨胀引起了两个向下的逆流螺旋涡流。明显的侧流主要在中外侧鼻道。在模拟的两种吸气速率之间，鼻子不同区域之间的流量分配几乎保持不变。最快的流量发生在后鼻瓣区。在主鼻气道中，最高空速发生在腹侧和中内侧区域。模拟的速度场和压力降通过鼻腔一般同意从文献中的实验结果。有人建议，该模型可用于减少人体健康风险评估的不确定性吸入材料，并评估由于常见的外科手术和医疗条件下的气流和鼻阻力的变化。
Extrapolation of the regional dose of an inhaled xenobiotic from laboratory animals to humans for purposes of assessing human health risk is problematic because of large interspecies differences in nasal respiratory physiology and airway anatomy. There is a need for dosimetry models that can adjust for these differences in the upper respiratory tract. The present work extends previous efforts in this laboratory and elsewhere to simulate nasal airflow profiles numerically in laboratory animals and humans. A three-dimensional, anatomically accurate representation of an adult human nasal cavity and nasopharynx was constructed. The Navier-Stokes and continuity equations for airflow were solved using the finite-element method under steady-stale, inspiratory conditions simulating rest and light exercise (steady-state inspiratory flow rates: 15 L/min and 26 L/min, respectively) with the fluid dynamics software package FIDAP. Simulated airflow was streamlined in the main nasal passages and complex in the vestibule and nasopharynx. Swirling air currents and recirculating flow were predicted in the nasal vestibule, and the expansion at the nasopharynx gave rise to two downward, countercurrent, spiraling vortices. Significant lateral flow was observed mainly in the middle lateral meatus. Flow apportionment among different regions of the nose remained almost unchanged between the two inspiratory rates simulated. Fastest flow occurred in the posterior nasal valve region. In the main nasal airway, the highest airspeeds occurred through the ventral and middle medial regions. Simulated velocity fields and pressure drops across the nasal cavity generally agreed with experimental results from the literature. It is proposed that this model can be used to reduce uncertainty in human health risk assessment for inhaled materials and to assess changes in airflow and nasal resistance due to common surgical procedures and medical conditions.