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advanced physiology In your summer job as a lifeguard, you occasionally have an

ID: 54133 • Letter: A

Question

advanced physiology

In your summer job as a lifeguard, you occasionally have an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of human physiology. An industrious 10-year-old swimmer has attached an extension to his snorkel tube, so that he can sit on the bottom of the ocean for a longer period of time, watching the fish of the coral reef. What problems would you expect him to have? Assuming he is successful in breathing this way for a little while, what are some of the differences he will experience compared to normal breathing?

Explanation / Answer

The air in the body parts such as ear, lungs, stomach etc will be compressed in under water. Due to water pressure the air in the ear will get compressed allowing water in the ear will release pressure. The compressed air in the chest will be released by air tanks used for breathing. More over oxygen becomes toxic under pressure, different gases are present for different depths of under water.