Gravity outweighs the contribution of structure to passive ventilation-perfusion matching in the supine adult human lung

Gravity and matched airway/vascular tree geometries are both hypothesized to be key contributors to ventilation-perfusion ((V) over dot/(Q) over dot)) matching in the lung, but their relative contributions are challenging to quantify experimentally. We used a structure-based model to conduct an analysis of the relative contributions of tissue deformation (the Slinky effect), other gravitational mechanisms (weight of blood and gravitational gradient in tissue elastic recoil), and matched airway and arterial tree geometry to (V) over dot/(Q) over dot matching and therefore to total lung oxygen exchange. Our results showed that the heterogeneity in (V) over dot) and (Q) over dot were lowest and the correlation betweenV. and (Q) over dot was highest when the only mechanism for (V) over dot/(Q) over dot matching was either tissue deformation or matched geometry. Heterogeneity in (V) over dot and (Q) over dot was highest and their correlation was poorest when all mechanisms were active (that is, at baseline). Eliminating the contribution of matched geometry did not change the correlation between (V) over dot and (Q) over dot at baseline. Despite the much larger heterogeneities in (V) over dot and (Q) over dot at baseline, the contribution of in-common (to (V) over dot and (Q) over dot gravitational mechanisms provided sufficient compensatory (V) over dot/(Q) over dot matching to minimize the impact on oxygen transfer. In summary, this model predicts that during supine normal breathing under gravitational loading, passive (V) over dot/(Q) over dot matching is predominantly determined by shared gravitationally induced tissue deformation, compliance distribution, and the effect of the hydrostatic pressure gradient on vessel and capillary size and blood pressures. Contribution from the matching airway and arterial tree geometries in this model is minor under normal gravity in the supine adult human lung. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We use a computational model to systematically analyze contributors to ventilation-perfusion matching in the lung. The model predicts that the multiple effects of gravity are the predominant mechanism in providing passive ventilation-perfusion matching in the supine adult human lung under normal gravitational loads, while geometric matching of airway and arterial trees plays a minor role.