It is generally assumed that when pulmonary vascular pressures are nor
mal the pulmonary contribution to central airway blood flow (Qp) is ne
gligible compared with systemic blood flow (Qs). However, it has been
suggested in recent reports that a substantial portion of central airw
ay blood flow is Qp. We have attempted to confirm whether there is a p
ulmonary contribution to central airway blood flow and to describe how
it is anatomically distributed. Measurements of Qp were made using th
e radioactive microsphere technique in anesthetized ventilated dogs (n
= 7) and sheep (n = 6). Qs to the central airways was also measured i
n another group of sheep (n = 10). At the end of each study, animals w
ere killed and the lungs and trachea were excised. Qp to the upper and
lower trachea, mainstem bronchi, and lobar bronchi was calculated, an
d the relative distribution of Qp and Qs to mucosa, cartilage, and adv
entitia was determined. Results showed a progressive increase (P < 0.0
1) in Qp (in ml . min(-1) . 100 g(-1)) from upper trachea to lobar bro
nchi in both dogs and sheep. Qp and Qs supplied mainly the airway adve
ntitia and the mucosa, respectively. Expressed as a percentage, 89 +/-
4% (SE) of Qp was to the adventitia and 0.1 +/- 0.07% was to the muco
sa (P < 0.01), whereas 60 +/- 3.2% of Qs was to the mucosa and 22 +/-
4.6% was to the adventitia. In conclusion, in dogs and sheep there is
a pulmonary contribution to central airway blood flow that increases f
rom upper trachea to lobar bronchi and that supplies mainly the peritr
acheal adventitia.