PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S ): Michael W. Whittle, Robin E. Herron, and Jaime R. 



Cuzzi 



EXPERIMENT TITLE/NUMBER : Biostereometric Analysis of Body Form 



PROGRAM/MISSION : Skylab 2, 3, ^ 



CLASSIFICATION : Human 



DISCIPLINE(S) : Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal 



OBJECTIVES : To measure the effects of space flight on body form. 



PROTOCOL : The subjects were photographed simultaneously by two cameras in 

 front and two behind. A strobe projector projected a pattern of lines on the 

 subject's skin. After development, photographic plates were analyzed on a 

 stereoplotter , which derived the three-dimensional coordinates of thousands of 

 points on the body surface, punching them on IBM cards for subsequent computer 

 analysis. The computer program derived area, shape, and perimeter of between 

 80 to 100 sections of different parts of the body, and volume of any segment 

 of the body, and of the body as a whole. 



EQUIPMENT : Four Hasselblad cameras, stereoplotter, strobe projector. 



RESULTS : There was no statistically significant difference in mean arm volume 

 between pref light and postflight measurements. Mean losses of volume of 1.2 

 liters in the head and trunk, and 1.3 liters in the legs were found. Post- 

 flight change in volume was proportionately much greater in the legs than in 

 the head and trunk. Marked loss of volume was seen in the abdomen, buttocks, 

 and calves, and a less striking loss in the thighs. 



CONCLUSIONS : During flight there was a reduction in body fluid, a partial 

 muscle astophy, particularly in the legs, and in all but two of the crewmen, a 

 loss of body fat. The partial muscle atrophy probably resulted from relative 

 disuse in the absence of gravity and was lessened to some extent by the 

 inflight exercise program. 



PUBLICATIONS : 267, 571, 572, 573, 574 



88 



