Biomaterial Database

Space motion sickness. 1990

B J Pingree

Space Motion Sickness (SMS) is the malady which frequently occurs shortly after attainment of sustained exposure to hypogravity. It is characterised by a variety of symptoms, which may proceed to nausea and eventually vomiting. Natural adaptation usually occurs if exposure to hypogravity is maintained. The condition appears to be the manifestation of motion sickness that is specific to hypogravity. It is associated with otolith-canal and otolith-eye conflict. SMS may have operational significance in impairing the performance of spacecraft crews. The condition is likely to be amenable to treatment with anti-motion sickness drugs. It may be possible to reduce any operational effects of SMS by suitable crew selection and training procedures.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009041	Motion Sickness	Disorder caused by motion. It includes sea sickness, train sickness, roller coaster rides, rocking chair, hammock swing, car sickness, air sickness, or SPACE MOTION SICKNESS. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and/or dizziness.	Airsickness,Carsickness,Seasickness,Air Sickness,Car Sickness,Sea Sickness,Sickness, Air,Sickness, Car,Sickness, Motion,Sickness, Sea
D010037	Otolithic Membrane	A gelatinous membrane overlying the acoustic maculae of SACCULE AND UTRICLE. It contains minute crystalline particles (otoliths) of CALCIUM CARBONATE and protein on its outer surface. In response to head movement, the otoliths shift causing distortion of the vestibular hair cells which transduce nerve signals to the BRAIN for interpretation of equilibrium.	Otoconia,Otoliths,Statoconia,Membrane, Otolithic,Membranes, Otolithic,Otoconias,Otolith,Otolithic Membranes,Statoconias
D006112	Gravitation	Acceleration produced by the mutual attraction of two masses, and of magnitude inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two centers of mass. It is also the force imparted by the earth, moon, or a planet to an object near its surface. (From NASA Thesaurus, 1988)	G Force,Gravistimulation,Gravity,Force, G,G Forces,Gravities
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000222	Adaptation, Physiological	The non-genetic biological changes of an organism in response to challenges in its ENVIRONMENT.	Adaptation, Physiologic,Adaptations, Physiologic,Adaptations, Physiological,Adaptive Plasticity,Phenotypic Plasticity,Physiological Adaptation,Physiologic Adaptation,Physiologic Adaptations,Physiological Adaptations,Plasticity, Adaptive,Plasticity, Phenotypic
D013026	Space Flight	Travel beyond the earth's atmosphere.	Space Exploration,Space Travel,Spaceflight,Exploration, Space,Explorations, Space,Flight, Space,Flights, Space,Space Explorations,Space Flights,Space Travels,Spaceflights,Travel, Space,Travels, Space
D014893	Weightlessness	Condition in which no acceleration, whether due to gravity or any other force, can be detected by an observer within a system. It also means the absence of weight or the absence of the force of gravity acting on a body. Microgravity, gravitational force between 0 and 10 -6 g, is included here. (From NASA Thesaurus, 1988)	Microgravity,Zero Gravity,Gravity, Zero