Effect of transverse acceleration on pulmonary function

¹ Acceleration Section, Biophysics Branch, Biomedical Division, Aero Medical Laboratory, Directorate of Laboratories, Wright Air Development Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio

Since difficulty with respiration limits tolerance to transverse acceleration, the effect of this acceleration on different respiratory factors was tested in 15 subjects. Minute volume, respiratory rate, tidal volume, maximum breathing capacity, 0.5-second timed vital capacity and total vital capacity were measured at 3 and 5 g with the subject's trunk perpendicular to the centrifugal force and legs and knees flexed at 90 degrees. Vital capacity was reduced significantly at 3 and 5 g. Maximum breathing capacity was significantly reduced at 5 g. One-half-second timed vital capacity represented an increasing fraction of total vital capacity as acceleration increased. Minute volume and respiratory rate also increased significantly at 5 g while tidal volume was essentially unchanged. Results are obtained which indicate that the nature of the predominant respiratory defect during forward acceleration is restrictive. Of the respiratory parameters measured, vital capacity showed the greatest decrement.