GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN

A

ADAPTATION - Changes in an organism’s structure or habits that allow it to adjust to its surroundings.

ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE (ATP) - A high energy phosphate molecule required to provide energy for cellular function.

AEROBIC - A process of converting fat, protein, and glycogen or glucose into ATP to be used as a fuel by the muscles. Uses (thus aerobic). A slower process than anaerobic metabolism, but much more efficient, allowing the athlete to perform for a much longer period of time.

A.I.D.A - Association Internationale pour le Développment de L’apnée (English - International association for the development of apnea).

AIR - The mixture of gases we breathe in a typical environment; consists of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, water vapor, and other trace gases such as carbon dioxide, helium, argon, , or various other pollutants.

ALIMENTARY CANAL - The passage through which food passes, starting at the mouth and ending at the anus.

ALVEOLI - Microscopic air sacs in the lungs where occurs with the .

ANAEROBIC METABOLISM - A process of converting glycogen or glucose into ATP to be used as a fuel for the muscles. A faster process than aerobic metabolism, but good only for a short period of time and thus is used for high intensity activity. Anaerobic metabolism is quite inefficient, and produces lactic acid as a by product.

ANALOGOUS BLOOD TRANFUSION - A blood transfusion in which the patient's own blood is used having previously been removed and stored.

ANOXIA - Absence of oxygen in the circulating blood or in the tissues.

AORTA - The largest vessel of the systemic arterial system, from which the main arteries carrying oxygenated blood branch and subdivide into smaller and smaller vessels.

APNEA - The suspension of . Also a general term for freediving.

APNÉE - French term for freediving.

APNEIST - A person who engages in freediving.

AQUATICITY -

ARGON (Ar) - An inert gas used to inflate drysuits

ARTERIAL GAS EMBOLISM (AGE) - A condition in which gas bubbles enter the arterial system and cause damage by blocking blood flow to vital organs, most commonly the brain. ARTERIOLE - Small artery

ARTERY - A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the tissues and organs of the body.

ASANA - Yoga pose.

ATRIUM - Chamber of the heart which provides access to another chamber called the ventricle.

B

BALLAST -

BAROTRAUMA - Physical damage to body tissues caused by a difference in between an air space in or beside the body, and the surrounding gas or liquid.

BHASTRIKA - An aggressive form of hyperventilation from yogic science.

BI-FINS - Traditional style fins where a separate fin is worn on each foot.

BLACKOUT (BO) - Loss of consciousness

BLOOD PH - Level of acidity/ alkalinity of the blood.

BLOOD SHIFT - Phenomenon associated with the mammalian where in order to avoid collapse under pressure, blood plasma fills up the thoracic cavity, especially the lungs, reducing residual volume.

BLOOD VESSEL - A tube by which blood circulates through the body.

BOTTOM TIME - Time spent underwater during a dive.

BRADYCARDIA - Slowing down of the heart rate and pulse.

BREATHE-UP - Set of breathing procedures conducted before a dive.

BRONCHI - Plural of bronchus, which is a division of the trachea.

BRONCHIOLE - Small branch of the bronchus that carries blood to and from the alveoli.

BRONCHOSPASM - Bronchoconstriction or the sudden narrowing of the smaller airways, of a spasmodic nature.

BTV - Béance Tubulaire Voluntaire (French term for VTO) http://eng.apnea.co.il/edu/btv_eng.doc

BUOYANCY CONTROL - The ability to maintain neutral . C

CAISSON DISEASE - See ‘ SICKNESS’.

CAPILLARY - Microscopic blood vessels where the gas exchange takes place between the bloodstream and the tissues or the air in the lungs. CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) - A waste gas produced by the metabolism of oxygen in the body.

CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) - A highly poisonous, odorless, tasteless and colorless gas formed when carbon material burns with restricted access to oxygen. It is toxic by inhalation since it competes with oxygen in binding with the hemoglobin, thereby resulting in diminished availability of oxygen in tissues.

CARP BREATHING - See ‘PACKING’.

CARTILAGINOUS - Pertaining to or composed of cartilage.

CERTIFYING AGENCIES - Official freediving agencies that have the authority to certify the different local, national and world records.

CILIA - Plural for ‘cilium’; short, fine, hair-like projections from the surface of some cells; cilia constantly beat in one direction and aid in the movement of a cell or in the movement of substances over the surface of cells.

CLOGGED EAR - Having the ear canal of the outer ear obstructed.

CMAS - Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques. This organization oversaw most freediving world records in the 1960’s and 1970’s but have now distanced themselves from most freediving depth disciplines and are therefore a non-entity in modern freediving.

CO2 NARCOSIS - Toxic effect of elevated PaCO2 (level of carbon dioxide in arterial blood)

CO2 TOLERANCE - Tolerance to higher than normal levels of PaCO2 (level of carbon dioxide in arterial blood)

COLLAPSED LUNG - See ‘PNEUMOTHORAX’.

COMPENSATION - A physical maneuver to equalize the pressure differential between either sides of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) - An action taken to counter an undesired effect.

COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT (CBC) - A laboratory test that provides detailed information about the amount and quality of each of the blood cell types.

CONSTANT WEIGHT (CWT) - A freediver descends and ascends using their fins/ without pulling on the rope or changing ballast. Only a single hold of the rope to stop the descent and start the ascent is allowed. (www.aida-international.org)

CONSTANT WEIGHT WITHOUT FINS (CNF) - The freediver descends and ascends using only their own muscle strength, without the use of propulsive equipment, and without pulling on the rope or changing ballast. (www.aida-international.org)

CONTRACTION - A tensing of the diaphragm. A natural reflex that acts as a reminder (in normal circumstances) that it is time to breath.

COUNTDOWN TIME - An announced period of time prior to the performance. This makes the athlete aware of time remaining before the commencement of the event/ dive, giving the athlete information crucial to timing their preparations.

COUNTERWEIGHT - A safety system allowing the rapid resurfacing from depth of a freediver tethered to a line. Instead of pulling the line up by hand, there is a weight situated at the surface which is dropped, its descent pulling up the other end of the line to which the freediver is connected.

CPR - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

CRAMP - A painful and involuntary tensing of a muscle or group of muscles.

CRAZY CUBAN - An unofficial freediving discipline in which attempts to dive as deep as possible with no aids whatsoever - no mask, fins, or .

CURRENT - Continuous directed movement of water. D

DECOMPRESSION - A staged ascent (or reduction of pressure in a controlled environment such as a hyperbaric chamber) to allow the body to eliminate microbubbles of gasses absorbed into the tissues at pressure.

DECOMPRESSION CHAMBER - (The correct term is ‘Recompression Chamber’) A chamber capable of reproducing pressure found at diving depths. A diver suffering (DCI) can safely be taken to a pressure at which the underlying cause of the illness - expanded bubbles of gases in the tissues - can be safely eliminated.

DECOMPRESSION DIVING - Diving exposure requiring staged in-water stops before ascent to the surface.

DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS (DCI) - Decompression illness is a term to describe dysbaric injuries related to . This diagnosis stems from the uncertainties in many cases about the mechanistic causation of neurological symptoms. Moreover, it is sometimes impossible to differentiate clinically between neurological DCS and AGE. An alternative approach has been suggested in which the clinical manifestation of a patient’s decompression syndrome is described without attempting to determine the pathophysiology. The term “decompression illness” (DCI) is suggested to encompass all manifestations of diseases following a reduction in , such as ascending from a dive.

DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS (DCS) - A syndrome caused by bubbles of inert gas forming in the tissues and bloodstream during or after ascent from a dive. DCS is manifested in two major forms, DCS I and DCS II.

• DCS I - involving only muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and/or skin symptoms (itching, rash).

• DCS II - Decompression sickness that includes symptoms involving the central nervous system, or circulatory system.

DEHYDRATION - An abnormal depletion of water and other body fluids.

DIAPHRAGMATIC INTROFLEXION - See uddiyana bandha

DIAPHRAGM - The muscle wall between the chest and abdomen that the body uses for breathing.

DRY STATIC - performed out of water. DYNAMIC WITHOUT FINS (DNF) - The freediver travels underwater in a horizontal position attempting to cover the greatest possible distance. Any propulsion aids are prohibited. (www.aida- international.org) E

EAR FEAR - A psychological fear based on previous experiences of problems with the ears such as infections or eardrum rupture. Ear fear can needlessly limit the freedivers confidence in their ability to go beyond their perceived limits.

EAR JAMMING - When the Eustachian tubes close during a dive and no amount of pressure seems to be able to open them.

EMBOLISM - Blockage of a blood vessel by a blood clot, a piece of tissue, a foreign object or a gas bubble.

EMPTY LUNG DIVE - A warm up exercise for in which the diver empties their lungs of air then dives down several meters. The lack of air pressure simulates diving to a much greater depth and is useful as a warm up exercise.

EMS - Emergency Medical Services

ENRICHED-AIR (EAN) - A nitrogen/oxygen mixture containing more than 21 percent oxygen, usually made by mixing air and oxygen.

EPIGLOTTIS - A flap of tissue (cartilage) that closes off the larynx to prevent unwanted objects entering such as food whilst swallowing.

EQUALISING - A physical maneuver to equalize the pressure differential between either sides of the eardrum (tympanic membrane).

EQUALIZING - A physical maneuver to equalize the pressure differential between either sides of the eardrum (tympanic membrane).

ERYTHROCYTES - Red blood cells

ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO) - A protein hormone produced mainly in the kidneys. Once released into the bloodstream it binds with receptors in the bone marrow where it stimulates the production of red blood cells (erythrocytes).

ESOPHAGUS - Portion of the digestive track that lies between the back of the throat and the stomach.

EUSTACHIAN TUBE - Connects the middle ear cavity with the throat (nasopharynx); maintains equal air pressure on both sides of the eardrum (tympanic membrane).

EXERTION - Exercise above that required for a relaxed swim in calm water. The main causes of exertion during a dive are or extra equipment (such as for photography or specialty diving)

EXPIRATION - Breathing out. F

FAILURE DEPTH - The depth at which lung pressure becomes negative and therefore it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to equalize. FATIGUE - Complaints of being tired, experiencing a lack of sleep or a generalized tiredness.

FLUID GOGGLES - Goggles that utilize special lenses allowing the air space of the goggles to be filled with fluid and therefore eliminating the need use up air equalizing the usual air space found in conventional masks.

FOSSA OVALIS - Oval depression in the wall of the heart remaining when the foramen ovale closes at birth. (see ‘patent foramen ovale’)

F.R.E.E. - ‘Freediving Regulations and Education Entity’ - a freediving teaching agency.

FRC - Acronym for ‘Functional Residual Capacity’. FRC is the volume of air left in your lungs after a passive expiration (the type you do unconsciously). This volume includes air that you can further exhale (Expiratory Reserve Volume), plus the air left when you forcefully exhale all the way (Residual Volume). Also the term applied to the diving method developed by Sebastien Murat, based on the study of physiological responses observed in marine animals.

FREE IMMERSION (FIM) -

FRENULUM - A small fold of tissue that connects a more fixed part, such as the floor of the mouth, to a movable part, such as the tongue.

FRENZEL - An equalizing technique in which the pressure needed is generated not from the lungs but from a piston like action of the tongue. (www.liquivision.ca/frenzel.doc)

FSW - Feet of sea water. G

GLOTTIS - The middle part of the larynx; the area where the vocal cords are located.

GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL BREATHING - unaided by the usual primary muscles of respiration; the air is forced into the lungs by use of the tongue and muscles of the pharynx.

GLYCAEMIC INDEX (GI) - A measure of the rate at which carbohydrates are absorbed into the bloodstream. The benchmark is white bread, which has a GI of 100. The higher the GI score the faster blood sugar levels will rise.

GRADIENT - The difference in pressure, oxygen tension, or other variable as a function of distance, time or other continuously changing influence. H

HAEMATOCRIT (HCT) - A measure of the proportion of blood occupied by red blood cells

HAEMATOPOIESIS - See HEMATOPOIESIS

HAEMOGLOBIN (Hb) - See HEMAGLOBIN

HELIOX - Helium and oxygen mixtures.

HEMATOCRIT (HCT) - A measure of the proportion of blood occupied by red blood cells HEMOGLOBIN (Hb) - An iron containing protein occurring in the red blood cells, functioning primarily in the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues.

HEMATOPOIESIS - The process by which the body produces blood

HOMOLOGOUS BLOOD TRANFUSION - A blood transfusion in which blood from a donor with a compatible blood type is used

HYPERVENTILATION - Abnormally rapid and deep breathing. Lowers CO2 levels in the blood delaying the onset of the breathing reflex. It raises blood pressure and can cause fainting.

HYOID BONE - A ‘U’ shaped bone in the upper neck positioned above the Adam’s apple. The hyoid bone is involved in the production of speech. It allows a wider range of tongue and laryngeal movements by bracing these structures against each other.

HYPOXEMIA - Inadequate oxygen supply in the arterial blood.

HYPOXIA - Inadequate oxygen supply to the body tissues.

HYPERCAPNIA - High carbon dioxide state.

HELIUM (He) - The second lightest of the gases; does not cause problems of narcosis to the same extent as nitrogen, and is therefore used for very deep diving.

HYPOXICATOR - A device used to simulate breathing conditions at high altitude. Used in freediving to accustom one’s body to being in a hypoxic state. I

INCONTINENCE - Absence of voluntary control of an excretory function, especially defecation or urination.

INERT - Having little or no tendency to react chemically.

INSPIRATION - Breathing in.

INTERCOSTAL MUSCLES - The muscles between the ribs which contract during inspiration to increase the volume of the chest cavity.

ISCHEMIA - Inadequate blood flow to a part or organ. J

JALA NETI - See ‘neti pot’.

JHALANDARA BANDHA (throat lock) - The third of the three interior body “locks” used in asana and pranayama practice (yoga) to control the flow of energy. K L

LARYNGOSPASM - Severe constriction of the larynx due to the introduction of water, allergies, or noxious stimuli. LARYNX - The area of the throat containing the vocal cords and used for breathing, swallowing, and talking. Also called the voice box.

LMC - Loss of motor control

LPM - Liters per minute. A measurement of a flow rate of gas or liquid.

LUNG SQUEEZE - See ‘pulmonary edema’. M

MAMMALIAN DIVING REFLEX -

MICRO BUBBLES -

MULA BANDHA (root lock) - The first of the three interior body “locks” used in asana and pranayama practice (yoga) to control the flow of energy. N

NARCOSIS - A state of stupor brought on by a drug or chemical that depresses nerve excitability.

NASOPHARYNX -

NECROSIS - of a portion of tissue.

NETI POT - Used to perform the yoga practice of jala neti. Jala neti is a form of nasal irrigation. The neti pot looks like a small teapot, with a spout attached near the bottom, and often a handle on the opposite side. It can be made from clay, glass, various metals, plastic, or ceramic.

NITROGEN -

NITROGEN NARCOSIS -

NORMOBARIC - O P

PACK - Use of the tongue and muscles of the pharynx to more air into the lungs than would be possible in normal breathing.

PATENT FORAMEN OVALE -

PERIPHERAL VASOCONSTRICTION -

PHARYNX - The section of the alimentary canal that extends from the mouth and nasal cavities to the larynx.

PLASMA - The pale colored liquid in which blood cells are suspended. It contains mineral salts, protein, and trace elements. PLATELETS - A type of blood cell that helps prevent bleeding by causing blood clots to form.

PLEURA - Two thin layers of tissue, one covering the lung and one lining the wall of the chest cavity. These two layers of tissue are separated by a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant, allowing the lungs to move smoothly during breathing.

PRANAYAMA - Science of controlling ‘prana’ (life force/ vital energy) through breathing techniques which dictate the lengths of inhalation, retention and exhalation; prepares the mind for deep meditation.

PULMONARY EDEMA - An abnormal build up of fluid in the lungs. R

REVERSE PACK -

RESIDUAL VOLUME (RV) - The volume of air that remains in the lungs after exhaling completely. S

SaO2 - Saturation of oxygen (arterial blood)

SAMBA - See LMC

SHALLOW WATER BLACKOUT (SWB) - Sudden loss of consciousness specifically in the final 10 meters/33 feet due to the pressure change being most pronounced in this phase of the ascent.

SOFT PALATE - A muscular flap that closes off the nasopharynx during swallowing or speaking.

SpO2 -

SPECIFITY -

SPOTTING -

SPIROMETER - An instrument used to measure lung function. It measures volume and flow rate of inhaled and exhaled air.

SPLEEN -

SPLENIC CONTRACTION -

STATIC APNEA (STA) -

STEREO FINS - Traditional style fins where a separate fin is worn on each foot.

SUIT SQUEEZE -

SURFACE INTERVAL -

SURFACE PROTOCOL (SP) - Series of tasks an athlete must perform at the completion of a performance. T TARAVANA - From the language of the Tuamotu Island natives. The literal meaning is ‘to fall crazily’ but ‘taravana’ has come to be used as a term describing decompression sickness in freedivers.

THERMOCLINE - Intersection between two layers of water that are of distinctly different , usually the colder layer is deeper.

THORACIC CAVITY - The chamber of the body enclosed by the ribs between the diaphragm and the neck.

THORAX - The part of the body between the neck and the abdomen.

THROMBOCYTES - A type of blood cell that helps prevent bleeding by causing blood clots to form.

TIDAL CAPACITY -

TOTAL LUNG CAPACITY (TLC) - Vital capacity (VC) plus residual volume (RV).

TYMPANIC MEMBRANE - Eardrum U

UDDIYANA BANDHA (abdominal lock) - The second of the three interior body “locks” used in asana and pranayama (yoga) practice to control the flow of energy.

UVULA - V

VALSALVA MANOUVER - A forced equalization of the middle ear by exhaling with the mouth closed and the nostrils pinched.

VASOCONSTRICTION - Narrowing of the blood vessels

VEIN - A blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart.

VELUM - See ‘Soft Palate’

VENTILATING - Breathing.

VITAL CAPACITY - The total volume of air that can be expired after maximal inspiration. This differs from Total Lung Capacity (TLC) by the fact that unlike VC, includes only the volume of air that can actually be moved in or out of your lungs by breathing, whereas TLC is the sum of VC and the residual volume of air that remains in your lungs despite forceful exhalation.

VTO - acronym for Voluntary Tubal Opening (see also ‘BTV’). http://eng.apnea.co.il/edu/btv_eng.doc

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