Human Factors Flashcards
Oxygen is transported by the circulating blood to the tissue of the body combined with which of the following carrier molecules:
A) Gamma globulin.
B) Activated blood platelets.
C) Hemoglobin in the erythrocytes.
D) Fibrinogen.
C) Hemoglobin in the erythrocytes.
Hypoxia may be defined as:
A) A deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the bodily tissue.
B) An excessive accumulation of carbon monoxide in bodily tissue.
C) A type of neuromuscular irritability due to excess carbon dioxide in the blood.
D) An abnormally low level of carbon dioxide in the blood.
A) A deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the bodily tissue.
Some of the subjective symptoms of hypoxia might be:
A) Combative behavior, loss of hearing, delirium.
B) Apprehension, headache, euphoria.
C) Slight nausea, ringing in the ears, laryngeal edema.
D) Vertigo, itching, gastrointestinal pain.
B) Apprehension, headache, euphoria.
The duration of useful consciousness at 40,000 feet is:
A) 5-12 seconds.
B) 15-30 seconds.
C) 30-45 seconds.
D) 40 to 55 seconds.
B) 15-30 seconds.
What would be the duration of useful consciousness for a person at 30,000 feet following a rapid depressurization?
A) 8-13 seconds.
B) 15-30 seconds.
C) 45-75 seconds.
D) 40-55 seconds.
C) 45-75 seconds.
Which of the following statements is NOT true with respect to hyperventilation?
A) Hyperventilation symptoms always develop very rapidly.
B) It is an abnormal increase in the rate of deep breathing.
C) It results in an abnormally low level of carbon dioxide in the blood.
D) There are very few distinguishable differences between the signs and symptoms of hyperventilation and hypoxia.
A) Hyperventilation symptoms always develop very rapidly.
A condition characterized by a variety of symptoms resulting from exposure to low barometric pressures that cause inert gases (mainly nitrogen) to come out of solution and form bubble in body tissues and fluids is known as:
A) Denitrogenation disorder.
B) Hypobaric syndrome.
C) Pulmonary syndrome.
D) Decompression sickness.
D) Decompression sickness.
A potentially very dangerous condition due to nitrogen bubbles present in the smaller blood vessels of the lungs and in the tissue of the trachea is:
A) Parasthesia.
B) The bends.
C) The chokes.
D) Pulmonary stenosis.
C) The chokes.
Carbon Monoxide is:
A) A highly toxic pungent gas that is often produced by faulty hot water heaters.
B) A constituent of the natural gas molecule.
C) A highly toxic, odorless gas that is a product of incomplete fuel combustion.
D) A flammable, odorless, toxic gas released by aircraft batteries during charging.
C) A highly toxic, odorless gas that is a product of incomplete fuel combustion.
From the statements listed below concerning the physiological aspects of exposure to carbon monoxide, select those which are true:
1) The binding affinity of carbon monoxide for hemoglobin is about 210 times that of oxygen.
2) The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be easily recognized.
3) The oxygen carrying capacity of the blood is reduced in heavy smokers.
4) Severe carbon monoxide poisoning can be very quickly cured once the source of gas is removed and fresh air is breathed.
5) Heavy smokers may become hypoxic at altitudes below 10,000 feet ASL.
A) 1, 2, 4.
B) 1, 3, 5.
C) 2, 3, 4.
D) 2, 4, 5
B) 1, 3, 5.
An initial symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning would be:
A) Euphoria.
B) Rapid, shallow respiration.
C) Tingling of the extremities.
D) Blurred thinking.
D) Blurred thinking.
The four areas of the body that are most sensitive to the mechanical effect of trapped gas are the:
A) Joints, paricardial sac, inner ear, cerebral ventricles.
B) Outer ear, pleural cavity, subdural space, eye sockets.
C) Middle ear, sinuses, teeth, gastrointestinal tract.
D) Spinal cord, outer ear, medulla, pleural cavity.
C) Middle ear, sinuses, teeth, gastrointestinal tract.
The pilot of an aircraft climbing to an assigned altitude experiences a “popping” sensation within the ears. He/she should be aware that:
A) This is a normal occurrence and is due to air escaping through the Eustachian tubes into the back of the throat.
B) This sensation can indicate a severe sinus infection that requires medical attention.
C) Air is trying to enter the inner ear and is causing the fluid to pulsate in the semicircular canals.
D) Outside ambient air pressure is forcing the eardrum to push inward against trapped air bubbles which subsequently burst.
A) This is a normal occurrence and is due to air escaping through the Eustachian tubes into the back of the throat.
The primary focusing element of the human eye (ie. that structure through which most of the light refraction occurs) is the:
A) Pupil.
B) Optic disk.
C) Lens.
D) Cornea.
D) Cornea.
The two types of photoreceptor cells in the retina of the eye are known as rods and cones. the rods:
A) Are responsible for daylight vision as well as for all high resolution vision.
B) Are less numerous and less sensitive than the cones.
C) Are very sensitive to color.
D) Are responsible for night vision.
D) Are responsible for night vision.
Any flight crew member donating blood should not fly:
A) Until he/she has consulted with a physician.
B) Until he/she has consulted with a Regional Aviation Medical Officer.
C) For at least 48 hours.
D) For at least 8 hours.
C) For at least 48 hours.
Alcohol consumption, even in small quantities, can:
A) Result in enhanced cognitive ability.
B) Increase the susceptibility of an individual to hypoxia.
C) Drastically lower a persons blood pressure.
D) Temporarily improve short term memory.
B) Increase the susceptibility of an individual to hypoxia.
With reference to reducing the alcohol content in an individuals bloodstream, you should know that:
A) The rate at which alcohol leaves the blood due to metabolic processes in the liver is always much faster in a person who is a frequent consumer.
B) Such a reduction can only be attained over the passage of time.
C) Alcohol removal from the blood can be accelerated by taking an analgesic such as acetaminophen or ASA (acetylsalicylic acid).
D) Drinking strong black coffee, breathing 100% oxygen or taking a cold shower are effective ways of speeding up the rate of alcohol metabolism or removal.
B) Such a reduction can only be attained over the passage of time.
A very insidious illusion known as the “Black Hole Illusion” can be experienced by pilots while on approach at night over dark terrain with no lights below or to the sides of the approach path, and with only the distant airport runway lights to provide visual stimuli. This illusion induces a false perception of aircraft altitude and results in the pilot flying the approach:
A) Too high.
B) Not aligned with the runway centerline and below VREF.
C) Too low.
D) At a speed that is well above VREF.
C) Too low.
While holding on a taxiway, an aircraft that was holding next to you with its wing tip in line with yours, edges forward to proceed to the active runway. Your brain interprets this peripheral visual information as though you were moving backwards and caused you to apply additional brake pressure. The illusion that you have just experienced is known as the:
A) Autokinetic illusion.
B) False visual reference illusion.
C) Vection illusion.
D) Coriolis illusion.
C) Vection illusion.
During the transition from instrument to visual reference, the pilot of an aircraft on a night approach to a light, downslope runway is likely to develop the illusion of being:
A) High, resulting in a dangerously low approach.
B) Low, causing the aircraft to cross the threshold low and slow.
C) High, resulting in an abnormally high rate of descent close to the threshold.
D) Low, causing the aircraft to cross the threshold high and fast.
D) Low, causing the aircraft to cross the threshold high and fast.
Rain on an aircrafts windscreen may cause a runway to appear:
A) Farther away and higher.
B) Closer and lower.
C) Farther away and lower.
D) Closer and higher.
B) Closer and lower.
Shortly after commencing a missed approach you enter cloud, what sensations are you likely to have?
A) A normal climb.
B) A high nose attitude thus having the tendency of lowering the nose.
C) A descent thus having the tendency of raising the nose.
D) No sensation at all.
B) A high nose attitude thus having the tendency of lowering the nose.
You are on an instrument approach at night. During the transition phase to a lighted up slope runway there is the possible illusion of_____when there is rain on the windscreen.
A) Being too low and thus decreasing the rate of descent.
B) Being very low and thus increasing the rate of descent.
C) Being very high and thus increasing the rate of descent.
D) Being too high and thus decreasing the rate of descent.
C) Being very high and thus increasing the rate of descent.
