\"Into Thin Air\" A Case Study in Physiology Part II Gasping for Air by Jennifer
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"Into Thin Air" A Case Study in Physiology Part II Gasping for Air by Jennifer Lundmark Department of Biological Sciences California State University, Sacramento John, the assistant expedition leader and a seasoned alpinist, helped Tom guide Mark down the steep trail. Mark's breathing, increasingly labored with every passing moment, was loud enough to worry Emily and Pete, the expedition's final climber. "Geez, do we sound like that?" gasped Pete. "I mean, I'm out of breath, too, but he sounds horrible!" "No, we're not that bad. Remember, that's why we spent the prep month at 15,000 feet. Mark was with us, so he experienced the same physiological changes we did. This," Emily nodded at Mark, "is some sort of problem." Questions: I. What physiological changes is Emily referring to (above) that will occur when someone lives at altitude for an extended period? How are these changes advantageous? What is the specific physiological pathway that results in the changes described? 2. 3.Explanation / Answer
ANSWER:1.
When a person lives at higher altitudes,due to the low barometric pressure partial pressure of oxygen is reduced,because the barometric pressure is very low at higher altitudes.
Decreased partial pressure of oxygen leads to hypoxia.
Carbondioxide at higher altitudes depends on the metabolic and the respiratory activities.
PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN EMILY AT HIGHER ALTITUDES:
ANSWER:2
While staying at higher altitudes for several days or weeks , a person slowly gets adapted to the low oxygen tension,so that hypoxia causes lesser effects on the body, and this adaptation of the body to higher altitudes is called as ACCLIMATIZATION.
Following changes occur during acclimatization and this is advantageus when someone lives in higher altitudes for longer duration
ANSWER:3.
PHYSIOLOGICAL PATHWAY:
When the body is accommodated to higher altitudes for longer duration ,juxtaglomerular apparatus in the kidney releases erythropoietin and this stimulates the bone marrow which increases the red blood cells count,Thus oxygen carrying capacity and hemoglobin of the blood is increased and this decreases the effects of hypoxia which is the major symptom of higher altitude barometric pressure.Chemoreceptors send impulses to the respiratory centers to increase the rate and force of respiration.
The peripheral chemoreceptors play an important role in increasing the ventilation during hypoxia,and the diffusing capacity of the gases increases in the alveoli and this enables more oxygen uptakee in the blood.
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