HL2040 Physiology in Extreme Environments 7.5 credits

• Education cycle

  Second cycle

• Main field of study

  Medical Engineering
  

• Grading scale

  A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• Course web

Intended learning outcomes

The objectives are to provide the student knowledge concerning physiological responses and medical constraints during exposure to certain harsh environmental conditions, namely: high gravitoinertial (G) load, weightlessness, increased and reduced ambient pressure and hot and cold environments. The course will also highlight how humans make use of different devices, techniques and/or behavioural strategies to withstand such environments. Upon completion of the course, the student will know about:

•  Physiological responses and medical problems during exposure to cold climates.

• Countermeasures against local cold injuries and hypothermia.

• Physiological responses and medical problems during exposure to hot climates.

• Countermeasures against heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

• Physiological responses and medical problems during exposure to high G loads.

• G-protective behaviour and anti-G garments/measures.

• Physiological responses and medical problems during and following exposure to weightlessness

• Countermeasures against undesirable effects of weightlessness.

• Physiological responses and medical problems during immersion and exposure to high ambient pressures.

• Countermeasures against barotrauma and decompression sickness.

• Physiological responses and medical problems in submarine vehicles.

• Life-support systems in submarines and techniques for free escape from a bottomed submarine.

• Physiological responses and medical problems at high altitudes.

• Countermeasures against acute hypoxia and mountain sickness, and high-altitude acclimatisation.

Course main content

The course will mainly be based on lectures . The lectures will cover physiological responses as well as constraints and countermeasures during exposure to high G loads, weightlessness, increased and reduced ambient pressure and hot and cold climates.

The course will also include demonstrations of a human-use centrifuge, hypo- and hyperbaric pressure chambers and physiological responses during local cold exposure.

In addition, the students will be requested to participate in seminars concerning thermal physiology, altitude physiology, diving & hyperbaric physiology and acceleration & gravitational physiology.

Eligibility

120 university credits in engineering, natural science, medicine/health science, sport science or other discipline that KTH consider relevant, including basic knowledge of anatomy/physiology, and proficiency in English corresponding to English B. 

Literature

Reference literature will be provided on the course website prior to commencement of the course.

Examination

• SEM1 - Project Work, 2.5, grading scale: P, F
• TENA - Examination, 5.0, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Final grade according to grade scale A-F.

Offered by

CBH/Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems

Contact

Michail Keramidas <michail.keramidas@sth.kth.se

Examiner

Ola Eiken <eiken@kth.se>

Version

Course syllabus valid from: Spring 2018.
Examination information valid from: Spring 2019.