ebullism

ebullism (uncountable)

1. (physiology) The formation of bubbles of gas in biological fluids due to reduced environmental pressure.
   • 1972, National Academy of Sciences, Human Factors in Long-duration Spaceflight‎, page 51:

     Acute hypoxia, possibly aggravated by ebullism (the vaporization of body fluids at ambient pressures below 47 mm Hg), may always be a major potential medical emergency in space.

   • 2008, William T. Norfleet, “11: Decompression-Related Disorders: Decompression Sickness, Arterial Gas Embolism, and Ebullism Syndrome”, in Michael R. Barratt, Sam Lee Pool, editors, Principles of Clinical Medicine for Space Flight, page 240:

     The ebullism syndrome arises when an individual is exposed to an ambient pressure that is less than the vapor pressure of body fluids at normothermic temperature, about 6kPa [197]. Whereas DCS is primarily characterized by the formation in tissues of the gas phase of inert gas, ebullism is characterized by the formation of the gas phase of water.

   • 2013, Jane Risdall, “50: Clinical managemement of decompression illness”, in Michael Robertson, Garry Walter, editors, Ethics and Mental Health: The Patient, Profession and Community, page 758:

     Exposure to 63 000 feet introduces the additional hazard of ebullism. At this altitude, ambient pressure (47mmHg, 6.25 kPa) equals the saturated vapour pressure of water at body temperature (37°C) and spontaneous boiling and degassing of bodily fluids and tissues will occur (ebullism).

• ebullient

• semibull