Skip to main content

Postnatal Development of Lung Function

  • Chapter
Physiology of the Fetal and Neonatal Lung

Abstract

Changes in pulmonary function during postnatal development are not yet very well understood. Most of the studies undertaken have concerned either neonates or children after the age of 6. The active period of postnatal lung growth occurs during the first years of life1, and there is a lack of information about lung function development in this period due to limited cooperation of infants and young children. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on postnatal lung function development in humans.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Thurlbeck, W. M. (1982). Postnatal lung growth. Thorax, 37, 564–71

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Muller, N. L. and Bryan, A. C. (1979). Chest wall mechanics and respiratory muscles in infants. Pediatr. Clin. N. Am., 26, 503–16

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bryan, A. C. and Gaultier, CL. (1985). Chest wall mechanics in the newborns. In Roussos, C. and Macklem, P. T. (eds.) The Thorax, pp. 871–88. ( New York: Marcel Dekker )

    Google Scholar 

  4. Openshaw, P., Edwards, S. and Helms, P. (1984). Changes in rib cage geometry during childhood. Thorax., 39, 624–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Agostini, E. (1959). Volume-pressure relationship to the thorax and lungs in the newborn. J. Appl. Physiol., 14, 909–13

    Google Scholar 

  6. Reynolds, R. N. and Etstan, B. E. (1966). Mechanics for respiration in apneic anesthetized infants. Anesthesiology, 27, 13–19

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gerhardt, T. and Bancalari, E. (1980). Chest wall compliance in full term and premature infants. Acta. Paediatr. Scand., 69, 359–64

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Richards, C. C. and Blackman, L. (1961). Lung and chest wall compliance in apneic paralyzed infants. J. Clin. Invest., 40, 273–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Sharp, M., Druz, W., Balgot, R., Baudelin, V. and Damon, J. (1970). Total respiratory compliance in infants and children. J. Appl. Physiol., 2, 775–9

    Google Scholar 

  10. Muller, N., Gulston, G., Cade, D., Whitton, J., Froese, A. B., Bryan, M. H. and Bryan, A. C. (1979). Diaphragmatic muscle fatigue in the newborn. J. Appl. Physiol., 46, 688–95

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gaultier, CL. (1985). Breathing and sleep during growth: physiology and pathology. Bull. Eur. Physiopath. Respir., 21, 55–112

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Henderson-Smart, D. J. and Read, D. J. (1979). Reduced lung volume during behavioural active sleep in the newborn. J. Appl. Physiol., 46, 1081–5

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Martin, R. J., Okken, A. and Rubin, D. (1979). Arterial oxygen tension during active and quiet sleep. J. Pediatr., 94, 271–4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Lesouef, P. N., Lopes, J. M., England, S. J., Bryan, M. H. and Bryan, A. C. (1983). Effect of chest wall distortion on occlusion pressure and the preterm diaphragm. J. Appl. Physiol., 55, 359–64

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Mortola, J., Saetta, M., Fox, G., Smith, B. and Weeks, S. (1985). Mechanical aspects of chest wall distortion. J. Appl. Physiol., 59, 296–304

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gaultier, CL., Praud, J. P., D’Allest, A. M. and Delaperche, M. F. (1986). Thoraco-abdominal motion and diaphragmatic EMG activity during sleep in healthy infants. Fed. Proc. (In press)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Tabachnik, E., Muller, N. L., Bryan, A. C. and Levison, H. (1981). Changes in ventilation and chest wall mechanics during sleep in normal adolescents. J. Appl. Physiol., 3, 557–64

    Google Scholar 

  18. Emery, J. L. (1969). Connective tissue and lymphatics. In Emery, J. L. (ed.) The Anatomy of the Developing Lung. pp. 203–9. ( London: Heinemann )

    Google Scholar 

  19. Keely, F. W., Fagan, D. G. and Webster, S. I. (1977). Quantity and character of elastin in developing lung parenchymal tissues of normal infants and infants with respiratory distress syndrome. J. Lab. Clin. Med., 90, 981–9

    Google Scholar 

  20. Senterre, J. and Geubelle, F. (1970). Measurement of endo-oesophageal pressure in the newborn. Biol. Neonate., 16, 47–53

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Helms, P., Beadsmore, C. and Stocks, J. (1981). Absolute intraesophageal pressure at functional residual capaCLty in infancy. J. Appl. Physiol., 51, 270–5

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Taussig, L. M., Landau, L. I., Godfrey, S. and Arad, I. (1982). Determinants of forced expiratory flows in newborn infants. J. Appl. Physiol., 53, 1220–7

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Stigol, L. C., Vawter, G. F. and Mead, J. (1972). Studies on elastic recoil of the lung in a pediatric population. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., 105, 552–63

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Fagan, D. G. (1976). Post-mortem studies of the semistatic volume-pressure characteristics of the infant’s lungs. Thorax, 31, 534–43

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Zapletal, A. E., Motoyama, K., Van de Woestijne, K., Hunt, V. and Bouhuys, A. (1969). Maximum expiratory flow-volume curves and airways conductance in children and adolescents. J. Appl. Physiol., 26, 308–16

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Bryan, A. C., Mansell, A. L. and Levison, H. (1977). Development of the mechanical properties of the respiratory system. In Hodson, W. A. (ed.) Development of the Lung. pp. 445–68. ( New York: Marcel Dekker )

    Google Scholar 

  27. Gaultier, CL, Boulé, M., Allaire, Y., Clément, A. and Girard, F. (1979). Growth of lung volumes during the first three years of life. Bull. Europ. Physiopathol. Respir., 15, 1103–16

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Olinsky, A., Bryan, M. H. and Bryan, A. C. (1974). Influence of lung inflation on respiratory control in neonates. J. Appl. Physiol., 36, 426–9

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Lopes, J., Muller, N. L., Bryan, M. H. and Bryan, A. C. (1981). Importance of inspiratory muscle tone in maintenance of FRC in the newborn. J. Appl. Physiol., 51, 830–4

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Mortola, J. P., Milic-Emili, J., Noworaj, A., Smith, B., Fox, G. and Weeks, S. (1984). Muscle pressure and flow during expiration in infants. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., 129, 49–53

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Harding, R., Johnson, P. and McClelland, M. E. (1980). Respiratory function of the larynx in developing sheep and the influence of sleep state. Respir. Physiol., 40, 165–79

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Weng, T. R. and Levison, H. (1969). Standards of pulmonary function in children. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., 99, 879–93

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Gaultier, Cl. and Zinman, R. (1983). Maximal static pressures in healthy children. Respir. Physiol., 51, 45–61

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Bosma, J. F. (1975). Introduction in the symposium. In Bosma, J. F. and Showacre, J. (eds.) Development of Upper Respiratory Anatomy and Function, pp. 5–49 ( Washington: DHEW publication no. 75–941 )

    Google Scholar 

  35. Moss, M. L. (1965). The veloepiglottic sphincter and obligate nose breathing in the neonate. J. Pediatr., 67, 330–1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Rodenstein, D. O., Perlemuter, N. and Stanescu, D. C. (1985). Infants are not obligatory nasal breathers. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., 131, 343–7

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Mortola, J. P. and Fisher, J. T. (1981). Mouth and nose resistance in newborn kittens and puppies. J. Appl. Physiol., 51, 641–5

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Stocks, J. and Godfrey, S. (1978). Nasal resistance during infancy. Respir. Physiol., 34, 233–46

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. England, S. J., Lesouef, P. N., Bryan, M. H. and Bryan, A. C. (1985). The role of upper airway in airway resistance in infants. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., 131, A225

    Google Scholar 

  40. Hislop, A., Muir, D. C., Jacobson, M., Simon, G. and Reid, L. (1972). Postnatal growth and function of the pre-aCLnar airways. Thorax, 27, 265–74

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Hogg, J. C., Williams, J., Richardson, J. B., Macklem, P. T. and Thurlbeck, W. T. (1970). Age as a factor in the distribution of lower-airway conductance and in the pathologic anatomy of obstructive lung disease. N. Engl. J. Med., 282, 1283–7

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Stocks, J. and Godfrey, S. (1977). SpeCLfic airway conductance in relation to postconceptional age during infancy. J. Appl. Physiol., 43, 144–54

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Doershuk, C. F., Downs, T. D., Matthews, L. W. and Lough, M. D. (1970). A method for ventilatory measurements in subjects 1 month to 5 years of age: normal values and observation in disease. Pediatr. Res., 4, 165–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Zapletal, A., Motoyame, E. K., Van de Woestijne, K. P., Hunt, J. R. and Bouhuys, A. (1969). Maximum expiratory flow volume curves and airway conductance in children and adolescents. J. Appl. Physiol., 26, 308–16

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Briscoe, W. A. and Dubois, A. B. (1958). The relationship between airway resistance, airway conductance and lung volumes in subjects of different age and body size. J. Clin. Invest., 37, 1279–85

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Taussig, L. M., Harris, T. R. and Labowitz, M. D. (1977). Functional residual capaCLty, tidal volume, and expiratory rate. Lung function in infants and young children. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., 116, 233–9

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Wohl, M. E., Stigol, L. C. and Mead, J. (1969). Resistance of total respiratory system in healthy infants and in infants with bronchiolitis. Pediatrics, 43, 495–509

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Polgar, G. and String, S. T. (1965). The viscous resistance of the lung tissues in newborn infants. J. Pediatr., 69, 787–92

    Google Scholar 

  49. Bachoffen, H. and Duc, G. (1968). Lung tissue resistance in healthy children. Pediatr. Res., 2, 119–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Adler, S. M. and Wohl, M. E. (1978). Flow-volume relationship at low lung volumes in healthy term newborn infants. Pediatrics, 61, 636–40

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Williams, S. P., Pimmel, R. L., Fullton, J. M., Tsai, M. J. and Collier, A. M. (1979). Fractionating respiratory resistance in young children. J. Appl. Physiol., 47, 551–5

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Stanescu, D., Moavero, N. E., Veriter, C. and Brasseur, L. (1979). Frequency dependence of respiratory resistance in healthy children. J. Appl. Physiol., 47, 268–72

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Taussig, L. M. (1977). Maximal expiratory flows at functional residual capaCLty: A test of lung function for young children. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., 116, 1031–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Hibbert, M. E., Couriel, J. M. and Laudau, L. I. (1984). Changes in lung, airway and chest wall function in boys and girls between 10 to 12yr. J. Appl. Physiol., 57, 304–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Pagtakhan, R. D., Bjelland, J. C., Laudau, L. I., Loghlin, G., Kaltenborn, W., Seeley, D. and Taussig, L. M. (1984). Sex differences in growth patterns of airways and lung parenchyma in children. Appl. Physiol., 56, 1204–10

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Seely, J. E., Guzman, C. A. and Becklate, M. P. (1974). Heart and lung function at rest and during exerCLse in adolescence. J. Appl. Physiol., 38, 34–40

    Google Scholar 

  57. Brody, J. and Vaccaro, C. (1979). Postnatal formation of alveoli: interstitial events and physiologic consequences. Federation Proc., 38, 215–23

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Gaultier, Cl. (1986). Influence de l’environnement sur la croissance du poumon. Rev. Franc. Mal. Respir., 3, 233–234

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Cook, C. D., Mead, J. and Orzalesi, M. M. (1964). Static volume-pressure characteristics of the respiratory system during maximal efforts. J. Appl. Physiol., 19, 1016–22

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Gaultier, Cl., Perret, L., Boulé, M., Buvry, A. and Girard, F. (1981). Occlusion pressure and breathing pattern in healthy children. Respir. Physiol., 46, 71–80

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Gaultier, CL, Boulé, M., Tournier, G. and Girard, F. (1985). Inspiratory force reserve of the respiratory muscles in children with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., 131, 811–15

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Milic-Emili, J. (1983). Respiratory muscle fatigue and its implications in RDS. In Cosmi, E. V., Scarpelli, E. M. (eds.) Pulmonary Surfactant System, pp. 135–41. ( Amsterdam: Elsevier )

    Google Scholar 

  63. Bellemare, F. and Grassino, A. (1982). Effects of pressure and timing of contraction on the human diaphragm fatigue. J. Appl. Physiol., 53, 1190–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Milic-Emili, J. (1984). Respiratory muscles fatigue in children. In Prakash, O. (ed.) Critical Care of the Child, pp. 87–94. ( Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff ).

    Google Scholar 

  65. Lopes, J., Muller, N. L., Bryan, M. H. and Bryan, A. C. (1981). Synergistic behaviour of inspiratory muscles after diaphragmatic fatigue in the newborn. J. Appl. Physiol., 51, 547–51

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Gaultier, Cl., Peret, L., Boulé, M., Tournier, G. and Girard, F. (1982). Control of breathing in children with interstitial lung disease. Pediatr. Res., 16, 779–83

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Keens, J. G., Bryan, A. C., Levison, H. and Ianuzzo, C. D. (1978). Developmental pattern of muscle fiber types in human ventilatory muscle. J. Appl. Physiol., 44, 909–13

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Koch, G. (1968). Alveolar ventilation, diffusing capaCLty and the A-a PO2 difference in the newborn infant. Respir. Physiol., 4, 168–92

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Levison, H., Featherby, E. A. and Weng, T. R. (1969). Arterial blood gases, alveolar- arterial oxygen difference and physiologic dead space in children and young adults. Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., 101, 972–4

    Google Scholar 

  70. Gaultier, Cl., Boulé, M., Allaire, Y., Clément, A., Buvry, A. and Girard, F. (1978). Determination of capillary oxygen tension in infants and children. Bull. Eur. Physiopathol. Resp., 14, 287–97

    Google Scholar 

  71. Cooper, D. M., Mellins, R. B. and Mansell, A. L. (1981). Changes in distribution of ventilation with lung growth. J. Appl. Physiol., 51, 699–705

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Mansell, A., Bryan, A. C., and Levison, H. (1972). Airway closure in children. J. Appi. Physiol., 33, 711–14

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Gaultier, Cl., Allaire, Y., Pappo, A. and Girard, F. (1975). Etude du volume de fermeture chez l’enfant sain et atteint d’obstruction bronchique. In Hatzfeld, C. (ed.) Distribution of Pulmonary Gas Exchange. Colloque INSERM 51, pp. 365–72. ( Paris, IN- SERM ).

    Google Scholar 

  74. Gaultier, Cl. and Girard, F. (1980). Croissance pulmonaire normale et pathologique: relation structure-function. Bull. Eur. Physiopathol. Respir., 16, 791–842

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Kattan, M., Keens, T., Lapierre, J. G., Levison, H., Bryan, A. C. and Reilly, B. J. (1977). Pulmonary function abnormalities in symptom free children after bronchiolitis. Pediatrics, 59, 683–8

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Gaultier, Cl. (1986). Abnormal development of lung function in children after severe viral infection. Bull. Eur. Physiopathol. Respir. (In press)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1987 MTP Press Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gaultier, C. (1987). Postnatal Development of Lung Function. In: Walters, D.V., Strang, L.B., Geubelle, F. (eds) Physiology of the Fetal and Neonatal Lung. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4155-7_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4155-7_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8344-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4155-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics