Changes in altitude have a profound effect on the human body. The body

attempts to maintain a state of homeostasis or balance to ensure the optimal

operating environment for its complex chemical systems. Any change from this

homeostasis is a change away from the optimal operating environment. The body

attempts to correct this imbalance. One such imbalance is the effect of

increasing altitude on the body's ability to provide adequate oxygen to be

utilized in cellular respiration. With an increase in elevation, a typical

occurrence when climbing mountains, the body is forced to respond in various

environment. Foremost of these changes is the diminished ability to obtain

oxygen from the atmosphere. If the adaptive responses to this stressor are

inadequate the performance of body systems may decline dramatically. If

prolonged the results can be serious or even fatal. In looking at the effect

of altitude on body functioning we first must understand what occurs in the

external environment at higher elevations and then observe the important

changes that occur in the internal environment of the body in response.

collisions between molecules. In areas of higher concentration there are more

some effect in reducing the risk of mountain sickness when used in

epiglottis covers the glottis when swallowing so that food does not enter the

Some topics in this essay:
CELLULAR RESPIRATION, EDEMA HACE, Mountain Sickness, PHYSIOLOGY Changes, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM, GAS TRANSFER, Moderate AMS, RESPONSE ANOXIA, GAMOW BAG, University Iowa, partial pressure, mountain sickness, sea level, partial pressure oxygen, immediate descent, lower altitude, cellular respiration, acute mountain, human body, respiratory system, pressure oxygen, acute mountain sickness, 2000 4000 feet, altitude pulmonary edema, university iowa 1995,