title: Eggshell conductance--Fick's or Stefan's law?
abstract: The diffusion of gases through the avian eggshell has usually been interpreted as an example of Fick's law, and this appears to be the best explanation for gas exchange through narrow long pores. Many eggshells, however, contain more elaborate pores, of which the funnel-shaped type is the most common. It is suggested that most of the resistance to diffusion through these types of pores is best explained by Stefan's law of diffusion through apertures. The implications of this theory to the understanding of pore functions are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000502:physiology*; D004058:Diffusion; D004528:Egg Shell; D005740:Gases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D005740:Gases