The elastic properties of lobes of excised human lungs.

Static pressure-volume curves were obtained from the upper and lower lobes of 5 excised human lungs. Comparison of the upper and lower lobe pressure-volume curves showed a small but significant difference. The upper lobes contained a greater percentage of total lobar capacity above approximately 80 per cent of the lung volume. It would thus appear that the difference in lobar elastic properties could influence ventilation distribution in normal humans.