3.

Physical agents effect

to cell
Radiation
Extreme thermal
Sudden change of air pressure
Electricity

1. radiation
Radiation is the transmission of
energy by electromagnetic waves
and by certain charged particles
(alpha and beta particles and
neutrons) emitted by radioactive
elements.

 Most of our information about wholebody irradiation has been derived from
studies of Japanese atom bomb survivors
and persons exposed during the
Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident.
300 cGy: At this dose, a syndrome
characterized by hematopoietic failure
develops within 2 weeks, leading to
bleeding, anemia, and infection. The last
is often the cause of death, which occurs
in about half of the people exposed.

 10 Gy
In the vicinity of this dose, the main cause of
death is related to the gastrointestinal system. At
this dose, the entire epithelium of the
gastrointestinal tract is destroyed within 3 days,
which is the time of the normal life span of villous
and crypt cells.
As a result, fluid homeostasis of the bowel is
disrupted, and severe diarrhea and dehydration
ensue. Moreover, the epithelial barrier to
intestinal bacteria is breached; gut organisms
invade and disseminate throughout the body.
Septicemia and shock kill the victim.

 20 Gy
With whole-body doses of 20 Gy and
above, CNS damage causes death
within hours. In most cases, cerebral
edema and loss of the integrity of the
blood brain barrier, owing to
endothelial injury, predominate. With
extreme doses, radiation necrosis of
neurons can be expected.
Convulsions, coma, and death follow.

2. Extreme thermal
Extreme thermal can cause:
a. Hypothermia is a Decrease in Body
Temperature Below 35C (95F)
Hypothermia can result in systemic or
focal injury. In localized hypothermia,
actual tissue freezing does not occur.
Frostbite, by contrast, involves the
crystallization of tissue water.

 Acute immersion in water at 4C to 10C

(39.2 to 50F) reduces central blood flow.
Coupled with decreased core body
temperature and cooling of the blood
perfusing the brain, this results in mental
confusion. Tetany makes swimming
impossible.
Increased vagal discharge leads to
premature ventricular contractions,
ventricular arrhythmias, and even
fibrillation. Within 30 minutes, heat loss
exceeds heat production, and core
temperature then begins to fall.

 Below 35C, respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood

pressure decline. If hypothermia is prolonged,
decreased body temperature alters cerebrovascular
function. When body core temperature reaches 32 C
(89.6F), the person becomes lethargic, apathetic, and
withdrawn. When it falls below 28C (82.4F), pulse and
breathing weaken and coma supervenes.
The most important factor in causing death is a cardiac
arrhythmia or sudden cardiac arrest. These
observations have been confirmed and extended,
largely due to the indication of hypothermia in some
patients undergoing open heart surgery. In fact, with
careful pharmacologic control, prolonged periods of
lower body temperature can be achieved with no
residual harm.

b. hyperthermia
Hyperthermia Means an Increase in Body
Temperature
Tissue responses to hyperthermia are
similar in some respects to those caused
by freezing injuries. In both instances,
injury to the vascular endothelium results
in altered vascular permeability, edema,
and blisters. The degree of injury depends
on the extent of temperature elevation
and how quickly it is reached.

 Systemic Hyperthermia
Fever is an elevation of body core temperature
resulting from a change in the thermoregulatory
center. It occurs because of (1) increased heat
production, (2) decreased elimination of heat from the
body (when reflecting an aberrant response of the
thermal regulatory center), or (3) a disturbance of the
thermal regulatory center itself.
A body temperature above 42.5C (108.5F) leads to
profound functional disturbances, including general
vasodilation, inefficient cardiac function, altered
respiration, and ultimately, death. Few, if any, defined
pathologic changes are associated with fever alone.

3. Sudden change of air

pressure
In high place such as in mountain (more than
4000m), it has a low air pressure that increasing
capillar permeability. And it can cause edema
Explosion
An explosion in the air can cause wave
compression to the source so that can cause high
pressure to abdominal, chest, and organ rupture.
In lower place ( under the sea, underground or
subway)
Increasing oxigen, nitrogen and helium pressure so
that make a air bubble in blood and cause emboli

4. Electricity
Electricity can burn skin.
Cutaneous burns are the most common
form of localized hyperthermia. Both
the degree and rate of temperature
elevation determine the tissue
response. A temperature of 50C
(120F) may be sustained for 10
minutes or more without cell death,
whereas a temperature of 70C (158F)
or higher for even several seconds
causes necrosis of the entire epidermis.

Cutaneous burns have been separated into three

categories of severity: first-, second-, and third-degree
burns.
First-degree burns, such as mild sunburn, are
recognized by congestion and pain but are not
associated with necrosis. Mild endothelial injury
produces vasodilation, increased vascular permeability,
and slight edema.
Second-degree burns cause epidermal necrosis but
spare the dermis. Clinically, these burns are recognized
by blisters, in which the epithelium separates from the
dermis.
Third-degree burns char both epidermis and dermis.
Histologically, tissue is carbonized and cellular
structure is lost.