Discussion of Structural Modeling and Functional Simulation

Summary

A computer model was developed that concerns the structure of the rat lung, which has about 4000 bronchial segments. Casts of a half-adult rat were studied which match the developmental stage of the histological material (see Chaps. 2–5). The method of investigation suggested here is to first measure the main branches of a lung exactly and analyze selected parts of the bronchial tree in detail and, secondly, to use obvious regularities and similarities present in the lung structure to complete a computer model by means of fractal graphics. Stochastic restriction by using measured data of the main branches and a matching against measured data improves the degree of proximity. As a result, a computer model of a complete bronchial tree is designed to study physiology and function after additional implementation of the necessary physical issues.