Aerosol deposition along the vertical axis of the lung

The effect of the apex-to-base ventilation differences on aerosol deposition in the lungs is analytically studied. We calculate single-breath aerosol washouts with a homogeneous model and a four-compartment model which simulates the apex-to-base ventilation differences. A comparison between the results calculated with the homogeneous model and the four-compartment model indicates that the apex-to-base ventilation differences have little effect on calculation of total deposition and the exhaled aerosol concentrations, but they have a significant effect on the vertical distribution of deposited particles in the lungs.