Glossary of space medicine
Comprehensive Glossary of Space Medicine Terms
- Aeropause - The boundary that separates the Earth's atmosphere from outer space, generally considered to be about 100 km (62 miles) above sea level.
- Aerospace Medical Association - A professional organization dedicated to enhancing health, safety, and performance in aviation and space through scientific research and education.
- Artificial gravity - A concept where a centrifugal force is used, akin to gravity, to simulate a gravitational environment in space.
- Astronaut organization in spaceflight missions - The hierarchical and functional structure of astronaut crews during space missions, addressing roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes.
- Astronautical hygiene - The application of science and technology to prevent or control exposures to hazards in space that may cause astronaut ill health.
- Aviation medicine - A branch of medicine that studies the health effects of flying in airplanes and helicopters, focusing on the physiological impacts of changes in altitude and acceleration.
- Bioastronautics - An interdisciplinary field that studies the biological challenges faced by humans during spaceflight, encompassing aspects of biology, medicine, and engineering.
- Cardiac rhythm problems during spaceflight - Cardiovascular issues, like arrhythmias, potentially experienced by astronauts due to the stress and environmental factors of space travel.
- Central nervous system effects from radiation exposure during spaceflight - The impact of cosmic radiation on the brain and nervous system, potentially leading to cognitive decline and other neurological issues.
- Diseases from Space - The hypothetical notion that pathogens might exist in space and pose a threat to Earth's ecosystem or human health.
- Ebullism - The formation of gas bubbles in bodily fluids due to reduced ambient pressure, a potential hazard during rapid decompression in space.
- Effect of spaceflight on the human body - The physiological and psychological changes that occur in the human body during and after spaceflight.
- Effects of ionizing radiation in spaceflight - Damaging effects on the human body resulting from exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation, such as cosmic rays and solar radiation, during space travel.
- Effects of sleep deprivation in space - Physiological and cognitive consequences of inadequate sleep, exacerbated by the space environment and altered circadian rhythms.
- Fatigue and sleep loss during spaceflight - The impact of the space environment on sleep patterns and the resultant fatigue.
- Health threat from cosmic rays - The various health risks, including cancer and neurological damage, posed by prolonged exposure to cosmic radiation in space.
- Illness and injuries during spaceflight - A range of medical conditions and traumas that astronauts might face during missions, from minor wounds to more serious emergencies.
- Institute of Biomedical Problems - A Russian research institution dedicated to studying the physiological and psychological challenges of human spaceflight.
- Intervertebral disc damage and spaceflight - The risk of disc herniation and other spinal injuries associated with prolonged weightlessness and the return to Earth's gravity.
- List of microorganisms tested in outer space - Microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that have been studied in the space environment to understand their survival, growth, and potential threat to astronauts.
- Mars analog habitat - Simulated environments on Earth that mimic the conditions of Mars, used for training and research in preparation for potential manned missions to Mars.
- Medical treatment during spaceflight - Approaches and techniques for treating medical conditions and emergencies in the unique environment of space.
- Microgravity University - An educational initiative or platform focusing on research and experimentation in simulated microgravity environments.
- NASA research - Research initiatives, experiments, and studies conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration related to space exploration and astronaut health.
- National Space Biomedical Research Institute - An institution focused on leading cutting-edge research to solve health challenges faced by astronauts during long-duration space missions.
- Neuroscience in space - The study of how space travel impacts the structure and function of the nervous system, including the brain.
- Physiological effects in space - Specific changes and adaptations that the human body undergoes in response to the space environment.
- Psychological and sociological effects of spaceflight - The emotional, cognitive, and behavioral impacts of prolonged space missions, as well as the interpersonal dynamics of crew members.
- Radiobiology evidence for protons and HZE nuclei - Research on the biological effects of high-energy proton and heavy ion radiation, both of which are components of cosmic radiation.
- Reduced-gravity aircraft - Aircraft, like the "Vomit Comet", that simulate microgravity by flying parabolic maneuvers.
- Renal stone formation in space - The formation of kidney stones in astronauts, potentially due to changes in fluid balance and increased bone resorption during spaceflight.
- Rodent Research Hardware System - A system for studying the effects of space environments on rodents, providing insights into human health challenges.
- Sleep in space - The challenges and adaptations related to sleep patterns and quality in the microgravity environment of space.
- Space adaptation syndrome - A condition, similar to motion sickness, experienced by some astronauts during their initial days in space, with symptoms like dizziness and nausea.
- Space food - Food that has been specially prepared and packaged for consumption in space.
- Space nursing - The nursing specialty that studies how space travel impacts human response patterns and provides healthcare to astronauts during missions.
- Space Nursing Society - An organization dedicated to the advancement of the specialty of space nursing through research, education, and practice.
- Space pharmacology - The study of how medications behave in the space environment, including their efficacy, metabolism, and potential side effects.
- Space weather - The conditions in space as influenced by the Sun and the solar wind, which can affect satellite operations, astronaut health, and Earth's climate.
- Spaceflight osteopenia - Bone density loss experienced by astronauts due to prolonged weightlessness in space.
- Spaceflight radiation carcinogenesis - The potential for increased cancer risk due to exposure to space radiation during long-duration space missions.
- Team composition and cohesion in spaceflight missions - The dynamics, interpersonal relationships, and teamwork strategies of astronaut crews during space missions.
- Visual impairment due to intracranial pressure - A medical condition observed in some astronauts, resulting in vision changes due to increased pressure within the skull.
- Weightlessness - A condition experienced in space where objects and astronauts are free-falling at the same rate as their spacecraft, leading to a sensation of floating.
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD