Requirments for Human Life Flashcards
What are the 4 main requirements for human life?
Oxygen, nutrients, narrow range of set temperature, and narrow range of atmospheric pressure
Why is oxygen a requirement for life?
- oxygen is a key component of chemical reactions that keep us alive like the production of ATP
- brain cells need a high and steady supply of oxygen
- 5 minutes without oxygen can lead to brain damage and 10 minutes with oxygen can lead to death
Why are nutrients a requirement for life?
Nutrients refer to substances in food or beverages that sustain life like water, macronutrients, and micronutrients.
Why is the nutrient water a requirement for life?
- most crucial
- functional chemicals are dissolved and transport through water
- chemical reactions take place in water
- 70% of body mass
- it regulates temperature
- cushions, protects, and lubricates joints etc.
Why are macronutrients a requirement for life?
- refers to carbs, lipids, and sometimes proteins
- come from plants, animals, and beverages
- broken down and converted to ATP
- important because ATP helps to fuel many functions in the body
Why are micronutrients a requirement for life?
- refers to vitamins and minerals
- sometimes stored in tissues
- important for chemical reactions and processes like nerve impulses
- contribute to the body’s bone structure
Why is the narrow range of temperature a requirement for life?
- death resulting from the temperature is because chemical reactions can only occur within a narrow range of temperature
- the body can deal with short-term heat and cold
What is controlled hypothermia?
Clinically induced hypothermia to reduce the metabolic rate of an organ or the entire body
- can be used in open heart surgery
- reduce effects of a heart attack
Why is the narrow range of atmospheric pressure a requirement for life?
Pressure refers to the force exerted by a substance in contact with another.
- pressure is exerted by a mixture of gases in Earth’s atmosphere
- pressure is constantly pressing down on your body
- this keeps gases like nitrogen dissolved in your body
altitude sickness occurs because less pressure = less exchange of gasses
What is decompression sickness?
- when gases that are dissolved in blood and other tissues are no longer dissolved resulting in reduction in the pressure in your body
- ex. the “bends” when deep divers dive too quickly or unpressurized cabins of airplanes
- there is a reduction in barometric pressure
- symptoms include pain in joints, disturbance of vision, and even death
