A numerical model for the process of gas exchange in the pulmonary capillaries (Q581281)

A mathematical model is proposed to deal with the simultaneous transport of \(O_ 2\) and \(CO_ 2\) in the pulmonary capillaries. The model takes into account the transport of the species due to molecular diffusion, convection and facilitated diffusion due to the presence of haemoglobin as a carrier of gases. The flow in the capillary is assumed to be fully developed. The resulting coupled system of parabolic partial differential equations together with the physiologically relevant boundary and entrance conditions is solved numerically. The rate at which blood gets oxygenated in the pulmonary capillaries is computed. It is found that (i) in the immediate neighbourhood of the entry, the facilitated diffusion, (ii) the blood is completely oxygenated within one-fourth part of its transit and (iii) the rate of oxygenation is smaller in case of parabolic flow than that in uniform flow in the capillary.