Respiratory system: hypoxia, high altitude and deep-sea physiology
Physiology · MBBS
Study notes
A diver ascends fast from 30 m and develops joint pain and dizziness. At depth, high pressure dissolves extra nitrogen into blood and tissues. Ascending too fast, pressure drops and nitrogen fizzes out as bubbles — decompression sickness ('the bends'): joint pain, dizziness, even paralysis if bubbles block vessels. Slow ascent with decompression stops lets nitrogen exhale safely; established bends need recompression chamber therapy. Dive tables exist to prevent exactly this physics.
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