¶ … Space Physiology
Love Of Extremes: Space Physiology
About the effect of gravity on the human being in space
Early milestones in space exploration and space physiology
Gravity
The effects of microgravity on human physiology
Physiological changes during a space flight
The effects of microgravity on the human body
The Vestibular System
Orientation in space
Space Adaptation Syndrome (SAS) and Space Motion Sickness (SMS)
The effects of radiations on astronauts in space
DNA damage mechanisms by radiations
The biological effects of radiations
Acute effects of ionizing radiations on health
The effects on the immunologic and hematological system
The late effects of radiations on human health
Cardiopulmonary System (CVS)
Heart, circulation and body fluids
Countermeasures
The effects of microgravity on bone physiology
The structure and function of muscles
Effects on the muscles
The effects of microgravity on the immune and hematopoietic systems
Effects of microgravity on the nervous system
In-flight acclimatization with time
Foremost animals initially sent to space
Fruit flies
Dogs
Cats
Spiders
Bullfrogs
The Russian tortoise
Rabbits
Newts
Chimpanzees
Water Bears
The first man to enter space
Yuri Gagarin's career
When scientists thought of exploring space
The Felix jump
Conclusion
References
Introduction
The human body undergoes considerable changes that are sometimes usually harmless while exposed to an environment without the aspect of gravity. Without consideration of the gravity, there is no longer the pressure to keep the fluids of the body on the specified normal course. The fluid travelling up to the head and the chest causes the face to puff up finally with the organs enlarged, the veins located in the neck bulges out. This is because of the accumulation of an extra fluid. The foremost problem affecting the humans since beginning to carry out expeditions into the outer space connects to the respective physiological effects that the environment lacking gravity poses to the body (Stellman & International Labour Office, 2008).
The realization that the lack of gravity results to physical changes to the respective human body comes following the step NASA took sending astronauts into the orbit for a shorter period. Upon returning to the ground, the experience disorientation with the inability to walk hence resulting to research on what actually happens to the general body of human. Following the prolonged space flights, scientists have managed to discover the changes in the human body. One of the principal findings is that the body becoming enlarged with the bones deteriorating within the body. The body muscles begin to atrophy with extreme circumstances because of lack of use (Stellman & International Labour Office, 2008).
The astronauts spend more time in the environments having no gravity enabling for more studies in relation to the problems arising in the course of the long-term space travel (Stellman & International Labour Office, 2008). The majority of the space machines constitutes of elastic straps anchored at one of the ends and then to the specified astronaut. The aspect of the astronaut stretching it out keeps the bones and muscles from deteriorating as opposed to its normal standards (Stellman & International Labour Office, 2008).
Prior to human beings setting out into space, some animals preceded in spaceships as surrogates to enhance the understanding if really a living being could endure and survive an expedition beyond the protective environment of the Earth. The foremost spaceflight carrying live creatures successfully departed from the Earth in September 1951, when the U.S.S.R. sent a sounding spaceship carrying a monkey together with eleven mice within the rocket's nose cone. This though was not a flight round the orbit, but rather, a simple up-and-down flight within the rocket, and amazingly, the animals were able to withstand the expedition. Before then, unsuccessful attempts to fly animals had been, initiated since 1948. The attempts were, purposely meant to analyze the implications of contact with the radiations of the sun at such a high altitude, as well as determining the impacts of weightlessness on the various physiological systems (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2008).
About the effect of gravity on the human being in space
Fluid accumulation in the body when in space poses a threat to the functional system of the human body. The spinal discs begin to encounter enlargement from gravity albescence. This causes the respective person to experience growth of about two inches. Another relative problem that occurs is the sudden impairment of the direction sense. The human body entirely...
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