New Insights into Avian Aerodynamic Valving: CT-Based CFD Analysis of Bronchial Airflow in the Domestic Chicken.
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, China.
- 2Animal Genetic Breeding and Reproduction Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610066, China.
Abstract
The avian respiratory system, characterized by its caudocranial unidirectional pulmonary airflow, has long fascinated scientists. To date, the mechanisms underlying the unidirectional airflow and the formation of aerodynamic valving, especially the expiratory valve, remain poorly understood. To provide new insights into pulmonary airflow characteristics and to deepen our understanding of the role of aerodynamic valving in generating unidirectional pulmonary airflow, the respiratory tract of a domestic chicken was reconstructed based on CT-scanned data. CFD simulations were performed under various conditions after validation of the numerical model. Flow parameters were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively during inspiration and expiration phases, respectively. The results showed that the coupled interaction of the distinctive bronchial topology and air-sac pressure conditions preferentially routed inspired air toward the caudal-sac pathways during inspiration. During expiration, aerodynamic valving was primarily associated with a momentum barrier generated by the cranial-sac airstream, which suppressed retrograde caudal-sac airflow through the primary bronchus and redirected it toward the dorsobronchial outlets leading to the physiological paleopulmonic pathway. Moreover, the 'segmentum accelerans' structure facilitated the formation of aerodynamic valving, whereas its removal did not abolish major-bronchial flow rectification, although higher air-sac boundary pressures were required during expiration. Finally, fluid density substantially affected inspiratory aerodynamic valving, whereas its effect on the critical pressures associated with expiratory valving remained below 5%.
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BibTeX
@article{du2026insights,
title = {{New Insights into Avian Aerodynamic Valving: CT-Based CFD Analysis of Bronchial Airflow in the Domestic Chicken.}},
author = {Longhuan Du and Li Yang and Chenming Hu and Mohan Qiu and Zengrong Zhang and Xiaoyan Song and Jiangxian Wang and Xia Xiong and Han Peng and Jialei Chen and Shiliang Zhu and Chunlin Yu and Chaowu Yang},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ani16203250},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42939181},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - New Insights into Avian Aerodynamic Valving: CT-Based CFD Analysis of Bronchial Airflow in the Domestic Chicken.
AU - Longhuan Du
AU - Li Yang
AU - Chenming Hu
AU - Mohan Qiu
AU - Zengrong Zhang
AU - Xiaoyan Song
AU - Jiangxian Wang
AU - Xia Xiong
AU - Han Peng
AU - Jialei Chen
AU - Shiliang Zhu
AU - Chunlin Yu
AU - Chaowu Yang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
DO - 10.3390/ani16203250
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42939181
AB - The avian respiratory system, characterized by its caudocranial unidirectional pulmonary airflow, has long fascinated scientists. To date, the mechanisms underlying the unidirectional airflow and the formation of aerodynamic valving, especially the expiratory valve, remain poorly understood. To provide new insights into pulmonary airflow characteristics and to deepen our understanding of the role of aerodynamic valving in generating unidirectional pulmonary airflow, the respiratory tract of a domestic chicken was reconstructed based on CT-scanned data. CFD simulations were performed under various conditions after validation of the numerical model. Flow parameters were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively during inspiration and expiration phases, respectively. The results showed that the coupled interaction of the distinctive bronchial topology and air-sac pressure conditions preferentially routed inspired air toward the caudal-sac pathways during inspiration. During expiration, aerodynamic valving was primarily associated with a momentum barrier generated by the cranial-sac airstream, which suppressed retrograde caudal-sac airflow through the primary bronchus and redirected it toward the dorsobronchial outlets leading to the physiological paleopulmonic pathway. Moreover, the 'segmentum accelerans' structure facilitated the formation of aerodynamic valving, whereas its removal did not abolish major-bronchial flow rectification, although higher air-sac boundary pressures were required during expiration. Finally, fluid density substantially affected inspiratory aerodynamic valving, whereas its effect on the critical pressures associated with expiratory valving remained below 5%.
SN - 2076-2615
ER -