Midterm AVS357 (Flight Physiology) Revision
Ch:6 / Altitude Physiology
(*) The most common problems directly associated with the physical properties of the
different layers of the atmosphere include:
- Hypoxia
- Trapped gas situations
- Decompression sickness
Info: pilots must respond with immediate & appropriate actions to prevent incapacitation
from happening during these problems.
(*) Hypoxia is:
1) the lack of adequate O2 in the body’s metabolism.
2) and also it is the lack of sufficient O2 in the body’s tissues & cells.
(*) Reasons of lack of O2:
- not enough amount of O2 in the air we breath
- less ability of the blood carrying O2
- illness
- consuming Drugs, Alcohol, Carbon monoxide, and smoking, etc;.
Info: a lot of incidents & accidents are related to the pilots who didn’t realize Hypoxia
earlier, you can also realize it when the performance of the pilot goes down.
Imp info: Hypoxia must be classified early, so that we can raise the pilots degree of
suspicion to know that he is Hypoxic.
(*) there are four categories of Hypoxia:
(*1) Hypoxic (Altitude) hypoxia:
- is lack of O2 molecules with sufficient partial pressure available to breathe. Ex: when
climbing.
(*2) Hypemic /Anemic hypoxia:
- it happens when the blood lacks to carry O2 molecules even if there is enough O2 in the air
to breathe & exchange.
Ex: (Anemia): reduced number of red blood cells for any reason which results in less capacity
for blood to carry O2.
(*3) Stagnant hypoxia:
- if the blood flow is compromised or diminished for any reason, this causes a blockage in
the path of oxygen to reach to the cells & tissues.
, (*) Some causes of Stagnant hypoxia:
- heart failing to pump effectively.
- an artery constricting and cutting off or reducing the flow.
- venous pooling of blood because of gravity.
- cold temperatures where blood supply to the extremities is decreased by shunting blood
away to more crucial organs.
(*4) Histotoxic hypoxia:
- is when the targeted cell is unable to take up the oxygen that is present.
(*) some causes:
- consuming alcohol
- narcotics and some poisons, like: Cyanide.
Info: the most dangerous thing about Hypoxia is that the pilot doesn’t realize that
he/she is hypoxic.
(*) The key to flying safe at altitude is to recognize:
The conditions under which you could be hypoxic
The physical and mental symptoms that indicate you are hypoxic
When a crewmate is susceptible to hypoxia in those conditions
Info: pilots must be aware of several stages of hypoxia because it develops gradually.
(*) Common symptoms of Hypoxia:
Ch:6 / Altitude Physiology
(*) The most common problems directly associated with the physical properties of the
different layers of the atmosphere include:
- Hypoxia
- Trapped gas situations
- Decompression sickness
Info: pilots must respond with immediate & appropriate actions to prevent incapacitation
from happening during these problems.
(*) Hypoxia is:
1) the lack of adequate O2 in the body’s metabolism.
2) and also it is the lack of sufficient O2 in the body’s tissues & cells.
(*) Reasons of lack of O2:
- not enough amount of O2 in the air we breath
- less ability of the blood carrying O2
- illness
- consuming Drugs, Alcohol, Carbon monoxide, and smoking, etc;.
Info: a lot of incidents & accidents are related to the pilots who didn’t realize Hypoxia
earlier, you can also realize it when the performance of the pilot goes down.
Imp info: Hypoxia must be classified early, so that we can raise the pilots degree of
suspicion to know that he is Hypoxic.
(*) there are four categories of Hypoxia:
(*1) Hypoxic (Altitude) hypoxia:
- is lack of O2 molecules with sufficient partial pressure available to breathe. Ex: when
climbing.
(*2) Hypemic /Anemic hypoxia:
- it happens when the blood lacks to carry O2 molecules even if there is enough O2 in the air
to breathe & exchange.
Ex: (Anemia): reduced number of red blood cells for any reason which results in less capacity
for blood to carry O2.
(*3) Stagnant hypoxia:
- if the blood flow is compromised or diminished for any reason, this causes a blockage in
the path of oxygen to reach to the cells & tissues.
, (*) Some causes of Stagnant hypoxia:
- heart failing to pump effectively.
- an artery constricting and cutting off or reducing the flow.
- venous pooling of blood because of gravity.
- cold temperatures where blood supply to the extremities is decreased by shunting blood
away to more crucial organs.
(*4) Histotoxic hypoxia:
- is when the targeted cell is unable to take up the oxygen that is present.
(*) some causes:
- consuming alcohol
- narcotics and some poisons, like: Cyanide.
Info: the most dangerous thing about Hypoxia is that the pilot doesn’t realize that
he/she is hypoxic.
(*) The key to flying safe at altitude is to recognize:
The conditions under which you could be hypoxic
The physical and mental symptoms that indicate you are hypoxic
When a crewmate is susceptible to hypoxia in those conditions
Info: pilots must be aware of several stages of hypoxia because it develops gradually.
(*) Common symptoms of Hypoxia:
