Abstract
OBJECT: To evaluate changes in the diameter of bronchi and pulmonary arteries during respiration.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ratio of the diameter of matched inner bronchi and accompanying pulmonary arteries was calculated from full inspiration and expiration HRCT of healthy men.
RESULTS: In 106 pairs of matched bronchi and pulmonary arteries, the brohchial-arterial ratios were 0.61±0.18(upper lung), 0.72±0.21(lower lung), and 0.65±0.20(total) at full inspiration and 0.51±0.32(upper lung), 0.52±0.15(lower lung), and 0.51±0.26(total) atfull expiration HRCT, denoting a statistically significant increase in bronchial diameter of the entire lung atfull inspiration. The inner diameter of the bronchus was larger than the diameter of the accompanying pulmonary artery by 0.1% at full expiration and 8.5% at full inspiration.
CONCLUSION: The result of this study would be helpful in understanding the physiology of the lung during respiration.