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Freediving Glossary Home
GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN FREEDIVING
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 METABOLISM - A process of converting fat, protein, and glycogen or glucose into ATP to be used as a fuel by the muscles. Uses oxygen (thus aerobic). A slower process than anaerobic metabolism, but much more efficient, allowing the athlete to perform for a much longer period of time.
AIDA - 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, ozone, 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 gas exchange occurs with the circulatory system.
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 breathing. Also a general term for freediving.
APNÉE - French term for freediving.
APNEIST - A person who engages in freediving.
AQUATICITY - A measure of an individual’s comfort, ability, and adaptation to an aquatic environment.
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 - Weight
BAROTRAUMA - Physical damage to body tissues caused by a difference in pressure 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 diving reflex 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 buoyancy.
C
CAISSON DISEASE - See ‘DECOMPRESSION 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.
CNS - Central Nervous System - Includes the brain, spinal cord, and the nerves leading from them.
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/monofin 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.
COUNTERBALLAST (CB) or COUNTERWEIGHT (CW) - 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 the diver attempts to dive as deep as possible with no aids whatsoever - no mask, fins, or weights.
CUBE - Unofficial nickname of the JUMP BLUE discipline (often also called The Blackout Cube)
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 decompression illness (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 scuba diving. 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 ambient pressure, 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 - Decompression sickness 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, respiratory 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 - Static apnea 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.aidainternational. 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 deep diving 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 NITROX (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.
EQUEX - external equalisation tool (initially empty container, filled by air from lungs underwater, the air is then used to ear equalising in greater depths)
EQUALISING - A physical maneuver to equalize the pressure differential between either sides of the eardrum (tympanic membrane).
EQUALIZING - see EQUALISING
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 (E-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 current 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.
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) - A freediver ascends and descends without the use of fins or other propulsive equipment, but pulls on the rope as the only means of propulsion. (www.aidainternational. org)
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 - Respiration 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.
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.
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 (HV) - Breathing over the needs of the body (deeper or faster). Lowers CO2 levels in the blood delaying the onset of the breathing reflex. It raises heart rate and blood pressure, lowers cerebral blood flow due to the constriction of carotide arteries, and can cause fainting. HV also significantly reduces the resistance against hypoxic blackout (higher affinity of oxygen to hemoglobin) which easily results in a premature loss of consciousness without any urge to breath. Prolonged HV leads to the depletion of oxygen stopres (namely in myoglobin), and results also in higher muscle tension or tetanism (due to the removal of free calcium needed for neuronal communication).
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.
HYPOCAPNIA - Low blood level of carbon dioxide (CO2).
HYPOXEMIA - Inadequate oxygen supply in the arterial blood.
HYPOXIA - Inadequate oxygen supply to the body tissues.
HYPERCAPNIA - High blood level of carbon dioxide (CO2).
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
IAFD - International Association of Free Divers - A freediving teaching agency founded by Carlos Serra and Francisco ‘Pipin’ Ferreras (now defunct).
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.
JUMP BLUE - CMAS discipline. The Jump Blue is an event where the athlete must cover the maximum distance in apnoea around a square of 15 (fifteen) meters side situated in a depth of 10 (ten) meters. The event takes place in open water (sea or lake) and the use of fins (bi-fins or monofin) is mandatory. The fins must be powered only by the muscular power of the athlete, without use of any mechanism, even if the latter is activated by the muscles.
K
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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 (commonly calle SAMBA)
LPM - Liters per minute. A measurement of a flow rate of gas or liquid.
LUNG SQUEEZE - Barotraumatic injury of the lungs. See ‘pulmonary edema’.
LYMPHOCYTES - The class of cells in the body which are responsible for mounting an immune response. Two main types are B cells and T cells. Also known as white blood cells.
M
MAMMALIAN DIVING REFLEX - A physiological reflex present in all mammals; initiated by facial immersion in water. Consists of three main physiological factors - Bradycardia, Peripheral Vasoconstriction, and Blood Shift.
MEDIASTINUM - The space within the chest located between the lungs, that contains the heart, major blood vessels, trachea and esophagus.
METABOLISM - The conversion of food into energy and waste products.
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 - Upper portion of the pharynx above the soft palate.
NECROSIS - Death 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 (N) - Gas constituting approximately 78% of the air we breathe. Pressure can cause nitrogen to become dissolved in
NITROGEN NARCOSIS - Alteration in consciousness similar to alcohol intoxication. While its precise mechanism is not well understood it appears to be caused by compressed bubbles of nitrogen dissolving into nerve membranes causing temporary disruption of nerve transmission.
NORMOBARIC - Barometric pressure at an equivalent to sea level pressure.
NYSTAGMUS - Spontaneous, rapid, rhythmic movement of the eyes occurring on fixation or on ocular movement.
O
OCCLUDE - To close off or stop off; obstruct.
OXYGEN - A colorless, odorless, tasteless gas essential to life making up approximately 21 percent of air.
P
PACK - Use of the tongue and muscles of the pharynx to force more air into the lungs than would be possible in normal breathing.
PATENT FORAMEN OVALE - A hole in the septum (wall) between the right and left atria of the heart.
PERICARDIUM - A double layered membranous sac surrounding the heart and major blood vessels connected to it.
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.
POST BLACKOUT MOTOR MOVEMENT (PBMM) - uncontrolled movements of the head after loss of consciousness. PBMM during Surface Protocol leads to disqualification
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.
PRIMARY ASSESSMENT - Assessment of the Airway, Breathing and Circulation (pulse) in an ill or injured person; also known as the ABC’s. PSI - Pounds per square inch; measurement of pressure.
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.
RESPIRATION - The exchange of gases between a living organism and it’s environment; the act of breathing.
RESPIRATORY ARREST - Cessation of breathing.
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 -
SPECIFICITY - Physical conditioning based on requirements of the human organism in a specific context.
SPOTTING - Being in a position to monitor an athlete, communicate time signals, and intervening if safety is compromised.
SPIROMETER - An instrument used to measure lung function. It measures volume and flow rate of inhaled and exhaled air.
SPLEEN - A large lymphatic organ in the upper left of the abdominal cavity. Closely associated with the circulatory system, the spleen culls damaged, worn-out, or potentially dangerous cells from the blood. It also produces lymphocytes and store excess red blood cells.
SPLENIC CONTRACTION -
SQUEEZE - see LUNG SQUEEZE
STATIC APNEA (STA) - The freediver holds their breath for as long as possible with respiratory tracts immerged. (www.aida-international.org)
STEREO FINS - Traditional style fins where a separate fin is worn on each foot.
SUIT SQUEEZE - Condition in which hydrostatic pressure pushes the hood of the wetsuit against the outer ear, sealing the outer ear and consequently causing an air pocket which can not be equalized.
SUPINE - Lying flat on back, with face upward.
SURFACE INTERVAL - Interval of time spent on the surface or out of the water between repetitive dives.
SURFACE PROTOCOL (SP) - Series of tasks an athlete must perform at the completion of a performance.
SURFACTANT - A substance produced in the lungs to reduce surface tension in alveoli and small airways.
SYMPTOM - Any non-observable condition described by the patient.
T
TACHYCARDIA - An abnormally rapid heart rate.
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 temperatures, 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 - The amount of air inhaled and exhaled during a normal breath.
TOTAL LUNG CAPACITY (TLC) - Vital capacity (VC) plus residual volume (RV).
TRACHEA - The air passage that begins at the larynx and ends as the beginning of the principle left and right bronchi.
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 - The fleshy structure hanging from the soft palate.
V
VALSALVA MANOUVER - A forced equalization of the middle ear by exhaling with the mouth closed and the nostrils pinched.
VARIABLE WEIGHT (VWT) - The freediver descends using a weight and ascends using their own strength: arms and/or legs, either by pulling or not pulling on the rope. (www.aidainternational. org)
VASOCONSTRICTION - Narrowing of the blood vessels
VEIN - A blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart.
VELUM - See ‘Soft Palate’
VENOUS GAS EMBOLI - Inert gas bubbles in venous blood (which return to the heart and lungs).
VENTRICLE - Thick-walled, muscular chamber in the heart which receives blood from the atrium, pumping it through to the pulmonary or systemic circulation.
VENTILATING - Breathing.
VENULES - Small veins.
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
W
WAFA (WORLD'S ABSOLUTE FREEDIVER AWARD) - annual prize for freedivers with the highest score in combination of six competition discipline (STA, DYN, DNF, CWT, CNF, FIM). http://apnea.cz/ranking.html?awards
X
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Y
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Z
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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 METABOLISM - A process of converting fat, protein, and glycogen or glucose into ATP to be used as a fuel by the muscles. Uses oxygen (thus aerobic). A slower process than anaerobic metabolism, but much more efficient, allowing the athlete to perform for a much longer period of time.
AIDA - 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, ozone, 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 gas exchange occurs with the circulatory system.
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 breathing. Also a general term for freediving.
APNÉE - French term for freediving.
APNEIST - A person who engages in freediving.
AQUATICITY - A measure of an individual’s comfort, ability, and adaptation to an aquatic environment.
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 - Weight
BAROTRAUMA - Physical damage to body tissues caused by a difference in pressure 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 diving reflex 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 buoyancy.
C
CAISSON DISEASE - See ‘DECOMPRESSION 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.
CNS - Central Nervous System - Includes the brain, spinal cord, and the nerves leading from them.
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/monofin 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.
COUNTERBALLAST (CB) or COUNTERWEIGHT (CW) - 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 the diver attempts to dive as deep as possible with no aids whatsoever - no mask, fins, or weights.
CUBE - Unofficial nickname of the JUMP BLUE discipline (often also called The Blackout Cube)
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 decompression illness (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 scuba diving. 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 ambient pressure, 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 - Decompression sickness 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, respiratory 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 - Static apnea 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.aidainternational. 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 deep diving 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 NITROX (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.
EQUEX - external equalisation tool (initially empty container, filled by air from lungs underwater, the air is then used to ear equalising in greater depths)
EQUALISING - A physical maneuver to equalize the pressure differential between either sides of the eardrum (tympanic membrane).
EQUALIZING - see EQUALISING
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 (E-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 current 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.
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) - A freediver ascends and descends without the use of fins or other propulsive equipment, but pulls on the rope as the only means of propulsion. (www.aidainternational. org)
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 - Respiration 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.
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.
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 (HV) - Breathing over the needs of the body (deeper or faster). Lowers CO2 levels in the blood delaying the onset of the breathing reflex. It raises heart rate and blood pressure, lowers cerebral blood flow due to the constriction of carotide arteries, and can cause fainting. HV also significantly reduces the resistance against hypoxic blackout (higher affinity of oxygen to hemoglobin) which easily results in a premature loss of consciousness without any urge to breath. Prolonged HV leads to the depletion of oxygen stopres (namely in myoglobin), and results also in higher muscle tension or tetanism (due to the removal of free calcium needed for neuronal communication).
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.
HYPOCAPNIA - Low blood level of carbon dioxide (CO2).
HYPOXEMIA - Inadequate oxygen supply in the arterial blood.
HYPOXIA - Inadequate oxygen supply to the body tissues.
HYPERCAPNIA - High blood level of carbon dioxide (CO2).
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
IAFD - International Association of Free Divers - A freediving teaching agency founded by Carlos Serra and Francisco ‘Pipin’ Ferreras (now defunct).
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.
JUMP BLUE - CMAS discipline. The Jump Blue is an event where the athlete must cover the maximum distance in apnoea around a square of 15 (fifteen) meters side situated in a depth of 10 (ten) meters. The event takes place in open water (sea or lake) and the use of fins (bi-fins or monofin) is mandatory. The fins must be powered only by the muscular power of the athlete, without use of any mechanism, even if the latter is activated by the muscles.
K
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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 (commonly calle SAMBA)
LPM - Liters per minute. A measurement of a flow rate of gas or liquid.
LUNG SQUEEZE - Barotraumatic injury of the lungs. See ‘pulmonary edema’.
LYMPHOCYTES - The class of cells in the body which are responsible for mounting an immune response. Two main types are B cells and T cells. Also known as white blood cells.
M
MAMMALIAN DIVING REFLEX - A physiological reflex present in all mammals; initiated by facial immersion in water. Consists of three main physiological factors - Bradycardia, Peripheral Vasoconstriction, and Blood Shift.
MEDIASTINUM - The space within the chest located between the lungs, that contains the heart, major blood vessels, trachea and esophagus.
METABOLISM - The conversion of food into energy and waste products.
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 - Upper portion of the pharynx above the soft palate.
NECROSIS - Death 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 (N) - Gas constituting approximately 78% of the air we breathe. Pressure can cause nitrogen to become dissolved in
NITROGEN NARCOSIS - Alteration in consciousness similar to alcohol intoxication. While its precise mechanism is not well understood it appears to be caused by compressed bubbles of nitrogen dissolving into nerve membranes causing temporary disruption of nerve transmission.
NORMOBARIC - Barometric pressure at an equivalent to sea level pressure.
NYSTAGMUS - Spontaneous, rapid, rhythmic movement of the eyes occurring on fixation or on ocular movement.
O
OCCLUDE - To close off or stop off; obstruct.
OXYGEN - A colorless, odorless, tasteless gas essential to life making up approximately 21 percent of air.
P
PACK - Use of the tongue and muscles of the pharynx to force more air into the lungs than would be possible in normal breathing.
PATENT FORAMEN OVALE - A hole in the septum (wall) between the right and left atria of the heart.
PERICARDIUM - A double layered membranous sac surrounding the heart and major blood vessels connected to it.
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.
POST BLACKOUT MOTOR MOVEMENT (PBMM) - uncontrolled movements of the head after loss of consciousness. PBMM during Surface Protocol leads to disqualification
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.
PRIMARY ASSESSMENT - Assessment of the Airway, Breathing and Circulation (pulse) in an ill or injured person; also known as the ABC’s. PSI - Pounds per square inch; measurement of pressure.
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.
RESPIRATION - The exchange of gases between a living organism and it’s environment; the act of breathing.
RESPIRATORY ARREST - Cessation of breathing.
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 -
SPECIFICITY - Physical conditioning based on requirements of the human organism in a specific context.
SPOTTING - Being in a position to monitor an athlete, communicate time signals, and intervening if safety is compromised.
SPIROMETER - An instrument used to measure lung function. It measures volume and flow rate of inhaled and exhaled air.
SPLEEN - A large lymphatic organ in the upper left of the abdominal cavity. Closely associated with the circulatory system, the spleen culls damaged, worn-out, or potentially dangerous cells from the blood. It also produces lymphocytes and store excess red blood cells.
SPLENIC CONTRACTION -
SQUEEZE - see LUNG SQUEEZE
STATIC APNEA (STA) - The freediver holds their breath for as long as possible with respiratory tracts immerged. (www.aida-international.org)
STEREO FINS - Traditional style fins where a separate fin is worn on each foot.
SUIT SQUEEZE - Condition in which hydrostatic pressure pushes the hood of the wetsuit against the outer ear, sealing the outer ear and consequently causing an air pocket which can not be equalized.
SUPINE - Lying flat on back, with face upward.
SURFACE INTERVAL - Interval of time spent on the surface or out of the water between repetitive dives.
SURFACE PROTOCOL (SP) - Series of tasks an athlete must perform at the completion of a performance.
SURFACTANT - A substance produced in the lungs to reduce surface tension in alveoli and small airways.
SYMPTOM - Any non-observable condition described by the patient.
T
TACHYCARDIA - An abnormally rapid heart rate.
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 temperatures, 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 - The amount of air inhaled and exhaled during a normal breath.
TOTAL LUNG CAPACITY (TLC) - Vital capacity (VC) plus residual volume (RV).
TRACHEA - The air passage that begins at the larynx and ends as the beginning of the principle left and right bronchi.
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 - The fleshy structure hanging from the soft palate.
V
VALSALVA MANOUVER - A forced equalization of the middle ear by exhaling with the mouth closed and the nostrils pinched.
VARIABLE WEIGHT (VWT) - The freediver descends using a weight and ascends using their own strength: arms and/or legs, either by pulling or not pulling on the rope. (www.aidainternational. org)
VASOCONSTRICTION - Narrowing of the blood vessels
VEIN - A blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart.
VELUM - See ‘Soft Palate’
VENOUS GAS EMBOLI - Inert gas bubbles in venous blood (which return to the heart and lungs).
VENTRICLE - Thick-walled, muscular chamber in the heart which receives blood from the atrium, pumping it through to the pulmonary or systemic circulation.
VENTILATING - Breathing.
VENULES - Small veins.
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
W
WAFA (WORLD'S ABSOLUTE FREEDIVER AWARD) - annual prize for freedivers with the highest score in combination of six competition discipline (STA, DYN, DNF, CWT, CNF, FIM). http://apnea.cz/ranking.html?awards
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IvoTruxa |
Latest page update: made by IvoTruxa
, Nov 30 2011, 6:35 AM EST
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added Tachycardia
- IvoTruxa
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