AHF 2203 - Lecture 1 (Flight Physiology)

LECTURE 1:
HUMAN FACTOR&
FLIGHT PHYSIOLOGY
AVIATION HUMAN FACTOR: AHF 2203
LEARNING OBJECTIVES &
OUTCOMES
By end of this session, you will be able to:

 Acquire some basic understanding of Human
Physiology
 Able to identify the main function of body
systems that have major role in human factors
 Understand how the body and mind can be
affected in flight as well as why they are
affected in flight.
 Be knowledgeable about the physiology of the
body in the flight environment.
WHAT IS PHYSIOLOGY?
 The study of human systems' integrated

functions and the processes by which they
maintain the body functions.
 In other words, the definition of physiology is:
 The study of the functions of the body at
the cellular level.

 While flight physiology is how the body and
mind work in the flying environment.
FLIGHT PHYSIOLOGY
 Flight physiology is how the body and mind work
in the flying environment.
 It includes
 How our organs function
 What keeps them from functioning in a abnormal
environment
 What the pilot can do to protect these functions before
and during flight.
 Flight physiology, therefore, is an integral part of
human factors and safe flight, and it has a direct
effect on human performance.
REMEMBER ! ! ! !
 Knowing flight physiology, being aware of its
effects on performance, and maintaining a high
index of suspicion when performance becomes
poor will continue to make everyone a better and
safer pilot.
 Suspicion = a feeling that something is possible
“Prevention is better than cure!”

Why we need to learn Physiology?
 Understanding how our organs function and

how they keep from functioning in unfriendly
environment.
 Know how the body should work under ideal
and controllable situations.
 Raise the level of awareness.
 Take action to avoid unsafe situation or be
better prepared medically.
Continue. . . .
The Crew must be medically fit for flight!!!

Human Anatomy
The Nervous System
 3 components:
 Brain (Central Nervous System)
 Spinal Cord
 Peripheral
Nervous System
 Basic function of nervous system
 Receive sensory input from internal and external
environments
 Integrate the information
 Respond to stimuli or in other words reaction to the sensory
input.
Central Nervous System (Brain)
 Core of the nervous system

 Control all body function:
 Mental
 Mechanical
 Physiological
 Example:
 Phone/computer system- Transmit electrical signal through
WIRE.
 Body- Transmit electrical and biochemical signal through
NERVES.
1st Part of Brain (Forebrain) (4 lobes)
 Frontal lobes: thoughts, decisions,
and judgments.
 Parietal lobes: senses and send
information for processing.
 Temporal lobes: Speech center
location and where the brain
computes information (for written
and spoken communications).
 Occipital lobes: are where
information from the eyes is
processed.
Continue . . .
 2nd part of brain (Midbrain): Hypothalamus,

which produces hormones that affect
temperature, growth, and other physiological
activities.
 3rd part of brain (hindbrain): The center of

regulation of many of the body’s basic
functions, including breathing, blood
pressure, heart rate, and many others.
Spinal Cord
 Function:
 Transmit signal
between brain and
peripheral system.
Peripheral Nerves System
 Function: Connect
and transmit signal
to branch of organ
from brain.
 Every part of body
has its own nerve.
The Respiratory System
 Function:
 Exchange of gases between body and its tissue
and the outside ambient air.
 Purpose:
 Add Oxygen(O2) and remove Carbon Dioxide
(CO2).
The Respiratory System
In the human body, two kinds of respiration take
place.
(1) External respiration.
respiration
- Occurs in the lung
- Air is inhaled and exhaled and gases transferred
through the lungs and into bloodstream.
(2) Internal respiration.

respiration
-Transport gases to and from body cells and tissues by the
blood and red blood.
External Respiration
 External respiration is about the mechanics of

breathing, getting oxygen into the lungs and
(used) air is expelled from the lungs in order to
remove carbon dioxide from to body.
 It is also about ensuring proper diffusion of
Carbon Dioxide from the blood into the lungs
External Respiration
Blood Capillary
Phases of Respiration
Breathing out
Breathing in
Active Phase Passive Phase

INHALATION EXHALATION
The Lung
Function of Lung: To transport of oxygen to the rest of body.

The process:
Human inhale oxygen (O2) from the outside air into the alveoli
inside the lung. The lung exchange the oxygen O2 and carbon
dioxide(CO2)
 Air enters through

the nose, mouth,
trachea to the
bronchial tree.
 Distribute to the
ALVEOLI (air sacs),
where blood brought
with OXYGEN
molecules.
 Amount of
OXYGEN from
Alveoli into red
blood cells depends
on pressure gradient.
Internal Respiration
 The processes by which the gases in the air that has
already been drawn into the lungs by external respiration
are exchanged with gases in the blood/tissues so that
carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed from the blood and
replaced with oxygen (O2).
External & Internal Respiration
Continue . . . .
 Diffussion:
 gases moves from high pressure area to lower
pressure area.
 Takes place as long as there is differential in
pressure.
 Gases moves = process of diffusion

The Circulatory System
 Function:
 Carries the blood, transport the oxygen,
carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste
product.
*REMEMBER
 Any change in oxygen levels to the cells immediately changes
the performance of many organs, especially the brain

The Circulatory System
Vascular System
(blood vessels)
 The link between the
heart, lungs, brain, and
other parts
 Function: To maintain
blood supply to all
tissues of the body
The Heart
The heart is an organ

that pumps the blood
through the
circulatory
system by contraction
and dilation.
Other Body System
 Musculoskeletal System
 Consist of bones (skeleton), tendons, muscles.
 Body framework
 Function:
 Bones – provide support and protection
 Muscles – contract and makes skeleton functional
 Gastrointestinal (GI) system

 Function: to digest and provide nutrients and fluids
for metabolism into the tissue cells.
 E.g. stomach
Other Body System
 Metabolic System:
 Function: convert resource into substance,
chemicals, and energy.
 E.g. kidney, liver, bladder
Conclusion
 In order to understand how the physiology of
flight can affect performance, we must have a
basic understanding on how the body work.
Key Points
 Definition of Physiology and Flight Physiology.
 Importance of Flight Physiology.
 Basic Concept of The Nervous System.
 Basic Concept of The Respiratory System.
 Basic Concept of The Circulatory System.
End of Presentation
Q/A Session

AHF 2203 - Lecture 1 (Flight Physiology)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

AHF 2203 - Lecture 1 (Flight Physiology)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

LECTURE 1:

By end of this session, you will be able to:

 The study of human systems' integrated

the cellular level.

“Prevention is better than cure!”

 Understanding how our organs function and

The Crew must be medically fit for flight!!!

 Core of the nervous system

 2nd part of brain (Midbrain): Hypothalamus,

 3rd part of brain (hindbrain): The center of

(2) Internal respiration.

 External respiration is about the mechanics of

Active Phase Passive Phase

Function of Lung: To transport of oxygen to the rest of body.

 Air enters through

 Gases moves = process of diffusion

the performance of many organs, especially the brain

The heart is an organ

 Gastrointestinal (GI) system

You might also like