FHL3003 Environmental Physiology I, Basic and Theory 7.5 credits

The course consists of lectures, seminars, demonstrations and literature studies regarding acceleration, diving, high altitude and thermophysiology and deals with the following:

• Physical laws and relationships, including terminology and nomenclature, used in environmental physiology.
• Effects of continuous exposure to increased gravitational force (G-load) on heart and peripheral blood vessels, lungs, skeleton, the vestibular organ, and the central nervous system.
• Techniques that are used by pilots to help them tolerate high G-loads.
• Mechanisms of spatial disorientation during flying
• Effects of reduced gravitational force (micro gravitation) on heart and peripheral blood vessels, lungs, skeleton, the vestibular organ, and the central nervous system.
• Methods to counteract the functional and structural changes caused by long space flights on heart/blood vessels, muscles, and skeleton. Symptoms of hypoxia and physiological responses during acute (hours/days) altitude exposures.
• Adaptive mechanisms during long term (days/weeks) and chronic altitude exposures.
• Symptoms, underlying mechanisms and treatment of "acute mountain sickness" (AMS), "high altitude pulmonary edema", "high altitude cerebral edema" (HACE) and "chronic mountain sickness (Monge’s Disease".
• Adjustment of circulation and respiration during immersion in water.
• Physiological effects of large hydrostatic pressures and gas pressures with special emphasis on "high pressure neurological syndrome", oxygen toxicity, and nitrogen narcosis.
• Problems of decompression in the form of barotrauma and decompression sickness.
• The structure and function of the thermoregulatory system in man.
• Thermoregulation in connection with heat stress/physical exercise, and symptoms and mechanisms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Thermoregulation in connection with cold stress, and symptoms and mechanisms of local cold injury and general hypothermia.

• Physical laws and relationships, including terminology and nomenclature, used in environmental physiology.
• Thermorgulation in connection with cold stress, and symptoms and mechanisms of local cold injury and general hypothermia.
• Symptoms of reactions to physiological changes in the surrounding environment.

After completion of the course the doctoral student should have the knowledge and ability to

• demonstrate for the level of the course adequate acquired knowledge in the specialized topics of acceleration physiology, barophysiology and thermophysiolog
• reflect on these topics with respect to environmental, human and societal aspects.

Admitted to post-graduate studies at technological or medical faculty.

Advanced Physiology HL2018 or corresponding

• INL1 - Hand in assignment, 7.5 credits, grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Ola Eiken

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.