Define hypoxia.

Hypoxia is a condition that occurs when the available oxygen in the blood is inadequate for the demands of the body cells  

Describe the role of the lungs in oxygen and carbon dioxide transfer.

Oxygen is breathed into the lungs, diffused through the walls of the lungs and into the bloodstream where it attaches itself to Haemoglobin.

Haemoglobin is the transport system for oxygen within the blood stream

The oxygen is transported through the arteries to cells throughout the body

The Haemoglobin has the property of remaining bound to the oxygen molecules until it enters an area of very low oxygen tension where the oxygen is then released into these tissues

Carbon dioxide diffuses into the blood from the peripheral tissues and is carried in solution to the blood through the veins as carbonic acid.

The veins deliver the carbon dioxide to the lungs where it is exhaled as a waste product

Describe the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system.

• Respiratory System – The system in the human body that enables us to breathe. The act of breathing includes inhaling and exhaling air in the body, the absorption of oxygen from the air and the discharge of carbon dioxide
• Blood – a fluid that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells 
• Haemoglobin – the transport system for oxygen within the blood 
• lungs – a pair of spongy, air-filled organs located on either side of the chest 
• Arteries – blood vessels that are responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to the body 
• Veins – blood vessels that carry blood low in oxygen from the body back to the heart for reoxygenation 
• Heart – a muscular pump, about the size of a closed fist, that is divided into two sides, each with two chambers 

Oxygen is breathed into the lungs, diffused through the walls of the lungs and into the bloodstream where it attaches itself to Haemoglobin.

Haemoglobin is the transport system for oxygen within the blood stream

The oxygen is transported through the arteries to cells throughout the body

The Haemoglobin has the property of remaining bound to the oxygen molecules until it enters an area of very low oxygen tension where the oxygen is then released into the tissues

Carbon dioxide diffuses into the blood from the peripheral tissues and is carried in solution to the blood through the veins as carbonic acid.

The veins deliver the carbon dioxide to the lungs where it is exhaled as a waste product

Explain how the partial pressure of oxygen changes as altitude increases.

As altitude increases the partial pressure of oxygen decreases – but remains adequate up to a height of 10,000 ft.

Above this height, the partial pressure is too low for humans to breath an adequate amount of oxygen 

Describe the variation of pressure as altitude increases.

As altitude increases, pressure decreases 

At 18,000 ft, pressure is approximately 1/2 sea level pressure 

At 34,000 ft, pressure is approximately 1/4 sea level pressure 

State the percentage of each gas in the atmosphere.

Nitrogen – 78%
Oxygen – 21%
1% – Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Neon, Helium etc

State the gases that make up the atmosphere.

The atmosphere is made up of mainly Nitrogen and Oxygen, with trace amounts of Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Neon and Helium 

Explain the role of human factors programmes in promoting aviation safety. Physiology and the Effects of Flight 

Human factors originally arose out of aircraft accident investigation, mainly from the rising number of aircraft accidents in which no obvious technical cause or failure could be found. 

Most accidents have a human element of factor as their main cause, in the region of 75%!

Human factors can be seen as an important part of aviation theory as a way of accident prevention. It encompases aircraft, cockpit, instruents, checklists, systems and software designs; as well as physiology and the effects of flight on the human body. 

Describe the fundamentals of the SHEL Model in relation to the interaction of humans with other humans, hardware, information sources and the environment. 

Components of the SHELL model:

Software

Software comprehends all non-physical resources, which are for organical operation, like organizational policies/rules, procedures, manuals and placards

Hardware

Hardware includes various equipments, tools, aircraft, workspace, buildings and other physical resources without human elements in aviation 

Enviroment

Environment includes not only the factors which influence where people are working such as climate, temperature, vibration and noise, but also socio-political and economic factors

Liveware

Liveware includes factors like teamwork, communication, leadership and norms

Liveware

Defined as human elements such as knowledge, attitudes, cultures and stress. This Liveware is regarded as the core of the SHELL Model and other components match with the Liveware as the central figure