Uniqueness of inspiratory airflow patterns in a realistic rat nasal cavity. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dong, Jingliang; Shang, Yidan; Tian, Lin; Tu, Jiyuan
• Is Part Of: Computers in biology and medicine. Volume 141(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: Inhalation exposure -- Nasal cavity -- Olfactory -- Rat -- Interspecies extrapolation; Medicine -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Biology -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2021.105129
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0010-4825

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, we present a detailed flow analysis using an anatomically accurate rat nasal cavity model, in which the anatomy and physiology of the nasal airway was thoroughly examined. Special efforts were given to the swirling flow structures in the nasal vestibule (anterior section of the nose, lined by squamous epithelium), fractional flow patterns in the olfactory (posterior superior section of the rat nose, lined by olfactory epithelium), and a designated method to precisely quantify flow apportionment in the olfactory region was developed. Results revealed distinct inspiratory flow patterns in the anterior vestibule region, where the accelerated airflow undergoes two sharp turns as traveling through the tortuous airway, making a route in a shape of 8 . Besides this, exceptionally large flow apportionment was observed at the interface of the olfactory recess, which can be as much as 15 times greater than that in the human nose. The thorough understanding of the airflow dynamics in the rat nasal cavity is necessary to avoid potential misinterpretation of rat-derived inhalation toxicity results. Research findings are expected to play a fundamental role in developing unbiased rat to human interspecies data extrapolation schemes. Highlights: A numerical study that correlates the intricate rat nasal anatomy with its inspiratory airflow patterns was conducted. Airflow undergoes two sharp turns as traveling through the tortuous vestibule airway, making a route in a shape of 8 . The olfactory flow apportionment of the rat nose can be as much as 15 times greater than that in the human nose.