A capillary network model for pulmonary blood flow and neutrophil transit

A new computational method is developed for generating structurally realistic pulmonary capillary networks and for predicting pulmonary blood flow and RBC and neutrophil transit. Using this model, one can calculate local flow rate, pressure and hematocrit distributions in a capillary network, and evaluate the effects of transpulmonary pressure. Ptp, transcapillary pressure Ptm and capillary blockage on them. Comparisons with experimental data indicate that the predicted RBC transit time, the percentage of neutrophils passing through the network without stopping and their final aspect ratio agree well with measurements. This model also predicts the sample widely variable neutrophil transit times as are observed experimentally