Diving Physiology Flashcards
How to study diving animals?
Anatomical studies
Simulated/forced diving
Trained dives
Free diving
What are two physiological challenges of diving to depth associated with pressure? And what happens if it is not controlled
Boyle’s Law:
As volume decreases with pressure the density increases. If the animals rises to the surface to quickly could cause tissue trauma as the gas expands at the surface.
Henry’s law:
Increased pressure allows for solubility of gases into the blood and tissues causing pressure diseases DPS.
How do diving animals avoid DCS?
Collapse of lungs
Slower ascents
What is Boyle’s Law?
Increase in pressure= decrease in volume
What is Henry’s Law?
Increased pressure leads to an increase in solubility of gas in blood and tissues.
What are some morphological adaptations to reduce pressures influence on air spaces?
Filling of air spaces like e the middle ears and sinuses with blood.
Reductions in sinuses like in pinnipeds
Lung collapse
Decompression Sickness “bends”
Increased pressure and solubility of gas result in N2 in blood and tissues. Takes time for N2 to diffuse out.
How to avoid DCS?
compression of lungs
exhale prior to diving
Smaller lungs
Behavior: recovery dives or slow ascent
Why do they collapse lungs?
Reduce air pockets and prevent nitrogen from entering blood.
How do they deal with lung collapse?
cartilage and muscle reinforcement
Lung surfactants->expand alveoli
Aerobic Dive Limit
The point before which aerobic metabolism takes over and produces lactate
How do you calculate cADL?
Total o2 sotres/Diving MR
How can you maximize aerobic dive duration?
Increase o2 stores
Reduce 02 consumption
Care ful 02 store management and hyperemic tolerance
How do you increase blood o2?
Hemoglobin (Hematocrit): Stores o2
Increased blood volume
What purpose does the spleen have in diving animals and what happens at depth
Spleen acts as a reserve of Hematocrit that is used to increased o2 storage and when compressed at depth.
