Abstract
A mathematical model is proposed to examine the interaction between blood perfusion and gas diffusion in the uptake of inert gases in tissue. The standard Haldane perfusion model is contrasted with the Hills radial bulk diffusion model in a variety of homogeneous tissue types used in decompression theory. It is the intention of the present analysis to fix ideas on the role of diffusion, perfusion and axial concentration and quantitative studies are given and seem to show that Haldane's perfusion theory is at best a poor approximation even at asymptotic times. It is shown that a strong interaction exists between diffusion and perfusion in muscle tissue and neither approach adequately describes the actual uptake half-time of an inert gas.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature
Abramovitz, M. and I. A. Stegun (eds.). 1965.Handbook of Mathematical Functions. New York: Dover.
Bassingthwaite, J. B., T. J. Knopp and J. B. Hazelrig. 1970. “A Concurrent Flow Model for Capillary Tissue Exchange.” InCapillary Permeability, Crone, N. and N. A. Lassen, eds. New York: Academic Press.
Bell, G. H., J. N. Davidson and H. Scarborough. 1961.Textbook of Physiology and Biochemistry. London: Livingstone.
Bellman, R., J. A. Jacquez and R. Kalaba. 1960. “Some Mathematical Aspects of Chemotherapy: I. One-Organ Models.”Bull. Math. Biophysics,22, 181–198.
—, R. Kalaba and J.-A. Lockett. 1966.Numerical Inversion of the Laplace Transform. New York: American Elsevier.
Blum, J. J. 1960. “Concentration Profiles in and Around Capillaries.”Am. J. Physiol.,198, 991–998.
Boycott, A. E., G. C. C. Damant and J. S. Haldane. 1908. “The Prevention of Compressed Air Illness.”J. Hygiene,8, 342–443.
Carslaw, H. S. and J. C. Jaeger. 1959.Conduction of Heat in Solids London: Oxford University Press.
Gonzalez-Fernandez, J. M. and S. E. Atta. 1968. “Transport and Consumption of Oxygen in Capillary-Tissue Structures.”Math. Bioscience,2, 225–262.
— and — 1972. “Concentration of Oxygen around Capillaries in Polygonal Regions of Supply.”,13, 55–69.
Haldane, J. S. See under Boycott, Damant and Haldane (1908).
Hansson-Mild, K. 1972. “Diffusion Exchange between a Membrane-Bounded Sphere and its Surrounding.”Bull. Math. Biophysics,34, 93–102.
Harris, E. J. and G. P. Burn. 1949. “The Transfer of Sodium and Potassium Ions between Muscle and the Surrounding Medium.”Trans. Faraday Soc.,45, 508–528.
Hennessy, T. R. 1971a. “Inert Gas Diffusion in Heterogeneous Tissue: I. Without Perfusion.”Bull. Math. Biophysics,33, 235–248.
—. 1971b. “Inert Gas Diffusion in Heterogeneous Tissue: II. With Perfusion.”,33, 249–257.
Hennessy, T. R. 1973. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cape Town.
Hills, B. A. 1966.A Thermodynamic and Kinetic Approach to Decompression Sickness. Adelaide: Libraries Board of South Australia.
—. 1967. “Diffusion Versus Blood Perfusion in Limiting the Rate of Uptake of Inert Non-Polar Gases by Skeletal Rabbit Muscle.”Clinical Sci.,33, 67–87.
—. 1969. “The Time Course for the Uptake of Inert Gases by the Tissue Type responsible for Marginal Symptoms of Decompression Sickness.”Rev. Subaquat. Physiol.,1, 255–261.
—. 1970a. “An Assessment of the ExpressionC=Q[l-exp(-PS)/Q] for Estimating Capillary Permeabilities.”Phys. Med. Biol.,15, 705–713.
—. 1970b. “Vital Issues in Computing Decompression Schedules from Fundamentals: II. Diffusion Versus Blood Perfusion in Controlling Blood-Tissue Exchange.”Int. J. Biometeor.,14, 323–342.
Johnson, J. A. and T. A. Wilson. 1966. “A Model for Capillary Exchange.”Am. J. Physiol.,210, 1299–1303.
Kety, S. S. 1951. “The Theory and Applications of the Exchange of Inert Gas at the Lungs and Tissues.”Pharm. Rev. 3, 1–41.
Krogh, A. 1919a. “The Number and Distribution of Capillaries in Muscles with Calculations of the Oxygen Pressure Head Necessary for Supplying Tissue.”J. Physiol.,52, 409–415.
—. 1919b. “The Supply of Oxygen to the Tissues and the Regulation of the Capillary Circulation.”,52, 457–474.
—. 1936.The Anatomy and Physiology of Capillaries. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Levitt, D. G. 1971. “Theoretical Model of Capillary Exchange Incorporating Interactions between Capillaries.”Am. J. Physiol. 220, 250–255.
Luke, Y. 1969.The Special Functions and Their Approximations. Vols. I and II. New York: Academic Press.
Morales, M. F. and R. E. Smith 1944. “On the Theory of Blood-Tissue Exchanges: III. Circulation and Inert-Gas Exchanges at the Lung with Special Reference to Saturation.”Bull. Math. Biophysics,6, 141–152.
— and —. 1945a. “A Note on the Physiological Arrangement of Tissues.”7, 47–51.
— and —. 1945b. “The Physiological Factors which Govern Inert Gas Exchange.”,7, 99–106.
— and —. 1948. “On the Theory of Blood-Tissue Exchange of Inert gases: VI. Validity of Approximate Uptake Expressions.”,10, 191–200.
Norden, H. 1961. “Numerical Inversion of the Laplace Transform.”Acta Acad. Aboensis Math. et Phys.,22, (8), 1–31.
Perl, W. 1962. “Heat and Matter Distribution in Body Tissues and the Determination of Tissue Blood Flow by Local Clearance Methods.”J. Theor. Biology,2, 201–235.
—. 1963. “An Extension of the Diffusion Equation to Include Clearance by Capillary Blood Flow.”Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.,108, 92–105.
Perl, W., H. Rackow, E. Salanitre, G. L. Wolf and R. M. Epstein. 1965. “Inter-tissue Diffusion Effect for Inert Fat-soluble Gases.”J. Appl. Physiol.,20, 621–627.
Piessens, R. 1972. “A New Method for the Inversion of the Laplace Transform.”J. Inst. Maths. Applics.,10, 185–192.
Reneau, D. D., D. F. Bruley and M. H. Knisely. 1969. “A Digital Simulation of Transient Oxygen Transport in Capillary Tissue Systems.”A.I.Ch.E. Journal,15, 916–925.
Roughton, F. J. W. 1952. “Diffusion and Chemical Reaction Velocity in Cylindrical and Spherical Systems of Physiological Interest.”Proc. Roy. Soc. B,140, 203–221.
Sangren, W. C. and C. W. Sheppard. 1953. “A Mathematical Derivation of the Exchange of a Labelled Substance between a Liquid Flowing in a Vessel and an External Compartment.”Bull. Math. Biophysics,15, 387–394.
Schmidt, G. W. 1952. “A Mathematical Theory of Capillary Exchange as a Function of Tissue Structure.”14, 229–263.
— 1953. “The Time Course of Capillary Exchange.”,15, 477–488.
Smith, R. E. and M. F. Morales. 1944a. “On the Theory of Blood Tissue Exchanges: I. Fundamental Equations.”,6, 125–132.
— and —. 1944b. “On the Theory of Blood Tissue Exchanges: II. Applications.”,6, 133–139.
Taylor, G. I. 1953. “Dispersion of Soluble Matter in Solvent Flowing slowly through a Tube.”Proc. Roy. Soc. A 219, 186–203.
Teorell, T. 1937. “Kinetics of Distribution of Substances Administered to the Body: I. The Extra-Vascular Modes of Administration.”Arch. internat. Pharmacodyn. et Thérap.,57, 205–224.
Thews, G. 1953. “Über Die Mathematische Behandling Physiologischer Diffusion Prozesse in Zylinderförmigen Objekten.”Acta Biotheoretica,10, 105–137.
von Schrotter, H. 1906. “Der Sauerstoff in der Prophylaxe und Therapie der Luft druckerkrankungen.” InHandbuch der Sauerstofftherapie, Michaelis M., ed., Berlin: Hirschwald. Cited by Kety (1951).
Zuntz, N. 1897. “Zur Pathogenese und Therapie der durch rasche Luftdruckanderungen erzeugten Krankheiten.”Fortschr. d. Med.,15, 632–639. Cited by Kety (1951).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hennessy, T.R. The interaction of diffusion and perfusion in homogeneous tissue. Bltn Mathcal Biology 36, 505–526 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02463263
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02463263