FHL3003 Environmental Physiology I, Basic and Theory 7.5 credits

The course consists of lectures, seminars, demonstrations and literature studies regarding acceleration, diving, high altitude and thermophysiology and deals with the following:

• Physical laws and relationships, including terminology and nomenclature, used in environmental physiology.
• Effects of continuous exposure to increased gravitational force (G-load) on heart and peripheral blood vessels, lungs, skeleton, the vestibular organ, and the central nervous system.
• Techniques that are used by pilots to help them tolerate high G-loads.
• Mechanisms of spatial disorientation during flying
• Effects of reduced gravitational force (micro gravitation) on heart and peripheral blood vessels, lungs, skeleton, the vestibular organ, and the central nervous system.
• Methods to counteract the functional and structural changes caused by long space flights on heart/blood vessels, muscles, and skeleton. Symptoms of hypoxia and physiological responses during acute (hours/days) altitude exposures.
• Adaptive mechanisms during long term (days/weeks) and chronic altitude exposures.
• Symptoms, underlying mechanisms and treatment of "acute mountain sickness" (AMS), "high altitude pulmonary edema", "high altitude cerebral edema" (HACE) and "chronic mountain sickness (Monge’s Disease".
• Adjustment of circulation and respiration during immersion in water.
• Physiological effects of large hydrostatic pressures and gas pressures with special emphasis on "high pressure neurological syndrome", oxygen toxicity, and nitrogen narcosis.
• Problems of decompression in the form of barotrauma and decompression sickness.
• The structure and function of the thermoregulatory system in man.
• Thermoregulation in connection with heat stress/physical exercise, and symptoms and mechanisms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Thermoregulation in connection with cold stress, and symptoms and mechanisms of local cold injury and general hypothermia.

• Physical laws and relationships, including terminology and nomenclature, used in environmental physiology.
• Thermorgulation in connection with cold stress, and symptoms and mechanisms of local cold injury and general hypothermia.
• Symptoms of reactions to physiological changes in the surrounding environment.

After completion of the course the doctoral student should have the knowledge and ability to

• demonstrate for the level of the course adequate acquired knowledge in the specialized topics of acceleration physiology, barophysiology and thermophysiolog
• reflect on these topics with respect to environmental, human and societal aspects.

Admitted to post-graduate studies at technological or medical faculty.

Advanced Physiology HL2018 or corresponding

Green NCD (2016). Long duration acceleration. In: Gradwell , Rainford (eds), Ernsting’s Aviation and Space Medicine 5thedition. CRC Press London, UK. Pg 131-156.

Eiken O, Bergsten E, Grönkvist M (2011). G-protection mechanisms afforded by the anti-G suit abdominal bladder with and without pressure breathing. Aviat Space Environ Med. 82:972-977.

Rollin Stott JR & Benson AJ (2016). Spatial orientation and disorientation in flight. In: Gradwell , Rainford (eds), Ernsting’s Aviation and Space Medicine 5thedition. CRC Press London, UK. Pg 281-320.

Tribukait A, Eiken O (2017). Instrument Failure, Stress, and Spatial Disorientation Leading to a Fatal Crash With a Large Aircraft. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 88:1043-1048.

Pavy-Le Traon A,  Heer M, Narici MV, Rittweger J, Vernikos J (2007). From space to Earth: advances in human physiology from 20 years of bed rest studies (1986-2006). Eur J Appl Physiol 101:143-194.

Eiken O, Kölegård R, Mekjavic IB. Pressure-distension relationship in arteries and arterioles in response to 5 wk of horizontal bedrest. 2008, Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 295:H1296-H1302.

Eiken O, Mekjavic IB, Kounalakis SN, Kölegård R (2016). Pressure distension in leg vessels as influenced by prolonged bed rest and a pressure habituation regimen. J Appl Physiol 120:1458-1465.

Kölegård R, Mekjavic IB, Eiken O (2009). Increased distensibility in dependent veins following prolonged bedrest. Eur J Appl Physiol 106:547-554.

Bärtsch P, Saltin B (2008). General introduction to altitude adaptation and mountain sickness. Scand J Med Sci Sports 18: 1-10.

Calbet JA, Lundby C, Boushel R. (2016). Integrative conductance of oxygen during exercise at altitude. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. 903:395-408.

Imray C, Wright A, Subudhi A, Roache R (2010) Acute Mountain Sickness: Pathophysiology, Prevention, and Treatment. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2010. 52: 467-484.

Ottestad W, Hansen TA, Pradham G, Stepanek J, Hoisethe LO, Kasin JI (2017). Acute hypoxia in a simulated high-altitude airdrop scenario due to oxygen system failure. J Appl Physiol 123:1443-1450.

Siebenmann C, Robach P, Lundby C (2017). Regulation of blood volume in lowlanders exposed to high altitude. J Appl Physiol 123:957-966.

Virués-Ortega J, Buela-Casal G, Garrido E, Alcázar B (2004). Neuropsychological functioning associated with high-altitude exposure. Neuropsychol Rev 14:197-224.

Eglin CM, Tipton MJ (2005). Repeated cold showers as amethod of habituating humans to the initial responses to cold water immersion. Eur j Appl Physiol 93:624-629.

Kenflick RW (2018). Drinkingstrategies: planned drinking versus drinking to thirst. Sports Med 48: S1-S37.

West JB (1996). Prediction of barometric pressures at high altitude with the use of model atmospheres. J Appl Physiol 81:1850 –1854.

Epstein Y, Roberts WO (2011).The pathophysiology of heat stroke: an integrative view of the final common pathway. Scand J Med Sci Sports 21:742-748.

Haman F, Blondin DP (2017). Shivering thermogenesis: Origin, contribution and metabolic requirmen. Temperature4:217-226.

Ferrigno M & Lundgren CE (2003). Breath-hold diving. . In: Brubakk, Neuman (eds), Bennett and Elliott’s Physiology and Medicine of Diving. 5th edition. Saunders, Edinburgh UK. Pg 153-180.

Bennet PB, Rostain JC (2003). Inert gas narcosis. In: Brubakk, Neuman (eds), Bennett and Elliott’s Physiology and Medicine of Diving. 5th edition. Saunders, Edinburgh UK. Pg 300-322.

Clark JM & Thom SR (2003). Oxygen under pressure. In: Brubakk, Neuman (eds), Bennett and Elliott’s Physiology and Medicine of Diving. 5th edition. Saunders, Edinburgh UK. Pg 358-418.

Hamilton RW & Thalmann ED (2003). Decompression practice. In: Brubakk, Neuman (eds), Bennett and Elliott’s Physiology and Medicine of Diving. 5th edition. Saunders, Edinburgh UK. Pg 455-500.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• INL1 - Hand in assignment, 7.5 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Ola Eiken

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.