title: Relationship between lung volume and tracheal area as assessed by acoustic reflection.
abstract: To determine whether airway size correlates with measures of lung or body size, we used the acoustic reflection technique to calculate tracheal cross-sectional area in 103 healthy young adults. Men have significantly larger tracheas than women [2.48 +/- 0.08 vs. 1.91 +/- 0.05 (SE) cm2, P less than 0.001]. Within each sex, there is no correlation between tracheal size and body size or maximal expiratory flows. There is a significant positive correlation between tracheal area and vital capacity in males only (r = 0.36, P less than 0.01). These results support the concept of dysanapsis, relatively independent growth of the airways and lung parenchyma, as well as sex-related differences in airway size and growth. Inherent airway size may be a factor in the development and/or progression of lung disease.
authors: Pediatric Pulmonary Division, Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors: L J
authors: LJ
authors: Brooks
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Byard
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Helms
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Fouke
authors: K P
authors: KP
authors: Strohl
mesh_terms: D000158:Acoustic Impedance Tests; D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance; D001824:Body Constitution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008448:Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate; D008838:Microcomputers; D010991:Plethysmography; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012984:Software; D014132:Trachea / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D014797:Vital Capacity