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Glossary Of Freediving Terms

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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shoutatthesky

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Mar 4, 2006
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I am in the process of compiling a glossary of Freediving words and terms. I have just over 50 words from the last 2 days but not all have definitions yet. As I go through the process I am finding there is quite a lot of research involved.
I am doing this because of my own experience of reading the vast amount of information on this site and not being able to make sense of a lot of what people say. Often this is simply because I don't know the meaning of certain words or terms. Do you know what a 'glottis' is? or what 'erythrocytes' are? or what 'FRC diving' is? If you do know, then do you remember what it was like to understand a new concept?
If you have any suggestions for words then please let me know.
Also if anyone would be able to advise me on how I could make it searchable I would appreciate it very much.
 
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This could be a very cool thread, perhaps you should post the words youve got with their meanings as well as the ones you dont know the meaning of and the rest of us can chip in by adding meanings and new words :)
 
Here is what I've computerised so far.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN FREEDIVING​
ANALOGOUS BLOOD TRANFUSION- A blood tranfusion in which the patient's own blood is used having previously been removed and stored.
APNEA - The suspension of breathing
ARGON (Ar) - An inert gas used to inflate drysuits
BALLAST - Weight
BHASTRIKA - An aggressive form of hyperventilation from yogic science
BLACKOUT (BO) - Loss of consciousness
COMPENSATION - A physical manouver to equalise the pressure differential between either sides of the eardrum(tympanic membrane)
- An action taken to counter an undesired effect.
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. (AIDA International)
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. (AIDA International)
CONTRACTION - A tensing of the diaphgm
DYNAMIC WITHOUT FINS (DNF) - The freediver travels underwater in a horizontal position attempting to cover the greatest possible distance. Any propulsion aids are prohibited. (AIDA International)
ERYTHROCYTES - Red blood cells
ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO) - A protein hormone produced by the kidney. Once released into the bloodstream it bind with receptors in the bone marrow where it stimulates the production of red blood cells (erythrocytes).
EPIGLOTTIS - A flap of tissue(cartilage) that closes off the larynx to prevent unwanted objects entering such as food whilst swallowing.
EQUALISING - A physical manouver to equalise the pressure differential between either sides of the eardrum(tympanic membrane)
EQUALIZING -
FRENULUM - A connection on the base of the tongue
FRENZEL -
GLOTTIS -
GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL BREATHING -
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.
HOMOLOGOUS BLOOD TRANFUSION - A blood tranfusion in which blood from a donor with a compatable blood type is used
HYOID BONE - Also known as 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.
HYPOXEMIA - Hypoxia of the blood
HYPOXIA - Low oxygen state
HAEMOGLOBIN (Hb) -
HEMOGLOBIN (Hb) -
HAEMATOPOIESIS - The process by which the body produces blood
HEMATOPOIESIS - The process by which the body produces blood
HYPERVENTILATION -
HYPERCAPNIA - High carbon dioxide state
HYDROGEN -
HEMATOCRIT -
HEMATOCRIT -
HELIUM -
HYPOXICATOR -
LARYNX -
LMC - Loss of motor control
PACK -
PLASMA -
PLATELETS -
REVERSE PACK -
RESIDUAL VOLUME -
SAMBA -
SOFT PALATE -
SURFACE PROTOCOL (SP) - Series of tasks an athlete must perform at the completion of a performance.
THERMOCLINE -
THORAX -
VALSALVA MANOUVER -
VITAL CAPACITY -
TIDAL CAPACITY -
TYMPANIC MEMBRANE - Eardrum
DIAPHRAGMATIC INTROFLEXION - (UDDIYANA BANDHA)
DIAPHRAGM -


 
GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN FREEDIVING​
ANALOGOUS BLOOD TRANFUSION- (also known as blood doping) A blood tranfusion in which the patient's own blood is used having previously been removed and stored.
APNEA - The suspension of breathing
ARGON (Ar) - An inert gas used to inflate drysuits
BALLAST - Weight
BHASTRIKA - An aggressive form of hyperventilation from yogic science
BLACKOUT (BO) - Loss of consciousness
COMPENSATION - A physical manouver to equalise the pressure differential between either sides of the eardrum(tympanic membrane)
- An action taken to counter an undesired effect.
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. (AIDA International)
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. (AIDA International)
CONTRACTION - A tensing of the diaphgm
DYNAMIC WITHOUT FINS (DNF) - The freediver travels underwater in a horizontal position attempting to cover the greatest possible distance. Any propulsion aids are prohibited. (AIDA International)
ERYTHROCYTES - Red blood cells
ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO) - A protein hormone produced by the kidney. Once released into the bloodstream it bind with receptors in the bone marrow where it stimulates the production of red blood cells (erythrocytes).
EPIGLOTTIS - A flap of tissue(cartilage) that closes off the larynx to prevent unwanted objects entering such as food whilst swallowing.
EQUALISING - A physical manouver to equalise the pressure differential between either sides of the eardrum(tympanic membrane)
EQUALIZING - (the correct spelling of "equalising")
FRENULUM - A connection on the base of the tongue
FRENZEL - Never heard of it, my best guess would be "Fresnel" which is a flat lens made of a number of concentric rings, to reduce spherical aberration.
GLOTTIS - The part of the larynx consisting of the vocal cords and the slitlike opening between them. It affects voice modulation through expansion or contraction.
GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL BREATHING - also known as "air stacking", The technique involves the use of the glottis (throat) to add to an inspiratory effort by projecting (gulping) boluses of air into the lungs. The glottis closes with each "gulp". One breath usually consists of 6 to 9 gulps
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.
HOMOLOGOUS BLOOD TRANFUSION - A blood tranfusion in which blood from a donor with a compatable blood type is used
HYOID BONE - Also known as 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.
HYPOXEMIA - Hypoxia of the blood
HYPOXIA - Low oxygen state
HAEMOGLOBIN (Hb) - incorrectly spelled hemoglobin
HEMOGLOBIN (Hb) - a red protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood of vertebrates. Its molecule comprises four subunits, each containing an iron atom bound to a heme group.
HAEMATOPOIESIS - The process by which the body produces blood
HEMATOPOIESIS - The process by which the body produces blood
HYPERVENTILATION - breathe at an abnormally rapid rate, so increasing the rate of loss of carbon dioxide
HYPERCAPNIA - High carbon dioxide state
HYDROGEN - a colorless, odorless, highly flammable gas, the chemical element of atomic number 1. (Symbol: H) (- still need specifics as to how it relates to diving)
HEMATOCRIT - the ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of blood. • an instrument for measuring this, typically by centrifugation.
HEMATOCRIT - same
HELIUM - the chemical element of atomic number 2, an inert gas that is the lightest member of the noble gas series. (Symbol: He) (- still need specifics as to how it relates to diving)
HYPOXICATOR - device using intermittent hypoxic exposure to reproduce some of the key physiological adaptive mechanisms brought on by high altitude relocation in order to improve sea level athletic performance.
LARYNX - The hollow muscular organ forming an air passage to the lungs and holding the vocal cords in humans and other mammals; the voice box.
LMC - Loss of motor control
PACK -
PLASMA - the colorless fluid part of blood, lymph, or milk, in which corpuscles or fat globules are suspended. • this substance taken from donors or donated blood for administering in transfusions.
PLATELETS - a small colorless disk-shaped cell fragment without a nucleus, found in large numbers in blood and involved in clotting. Also called thrombocyte.
REVERSE PACK -
RESIDUAL VOLUME -
SAMBA -
SOFT PALATE - The soft palate (or velum, or muscular palate) is the soft tissue constituting the back of the roof of the mouth. The soft palate is distinguished from the hard palate at the front of the mouth in that it does not contain bone.
SURFACE PROTOCOL (SP) - Series of tasks an athlete must perform at the completion of a performance.
THERMOCLINE - a steep temperature gradient in a body of water such as a lake, marked by a layer above and below which the water is at different temperatures.
THORAX - the part of the body of a mammal between the neck and the abdomen, including the cavity enclosed by the ribs, breastbone, and dorsal vertebrae, and containing the chief organs of circulation and respiration; the chest.
VALSALVA MANOUVER - The Valsalva maneuver is performed by attempting to forcibly exhale while keeping the mouth and nose closed.
VITAL CAPACITY - The maximum volume of air that a person can exhale after maximum inhalation. It can also be the maximum volume of air that a person can inhale after maximum exhalation.
TIDAL CAPACITY - The amount of air breathed in or out during normal respiration. The volume of air an individual is normally breathing in and out.
TYMPANIC MEMBRANE - Eardrum
DIAPHRAGMATIC INTROFLEXION - (UDDIYANA BANDHA)
DIAPHRAGM - dome-shaped, muscular partition separating the thorax from the abdomen in mammals. It plays a major role in breathing, as its contraction increases the volume of the thorax and so inflates the lungs.



There's still a couple empty ones.
 
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" FRENZEL - Never heard of it, my best guess would be "Fresnel" which is a flat lens made of a number of concentric rings, to reduce spherical aberration."
... you must be joking:), right?

 
Frensel is a hands free equalising technique, where the soft palate, epiglotis and tongue is used to force air from the mouth into nasal and ear cavities to equalise
 
hands free? Doesnt have to be hands free...maybe if you use the noseclip:)
 
Thanks rhett121 you've given me some good definitions. The two spellings 'haemaglobin' and 'hemaglobin' are both valid.
 
That is awesome Adrian. I sure you will agree that there are many other terms to be compiled and defined.
Which program did you use to originally write the list? How did you convert it to a .doc file type?
One capability I would like the glossary to have is a search function - any ideas?

I look at this as a collaborative project so with your permission I will merge what you have already come up with?
 
If I remember I used Microsoft Access - basically for being able to use alphabetical ordering of the terms - I think Access files can be exported as docs but it's been so long since I used it.

To have a search function you could turn it into a web page and have a onsite search program. Better ask Trux on that - he's the real expert.

You don't need my permission, I started it just to help clarify my own starting knowledge of freediving language. So go ahead, the more the merrier.
 
" FRENZEL - Never heard of it, my best guess would be "Fresnel" which is a flat lens made of a number of concentric rings, to reduce spherical aberration."
... you must be joking:), right?


Nope, not joking :duh

I'm new to the sport and having a very difficult time finding anyone to talk to about it (simply amazing that there are so few dive shops in a place that calls itself "The Ocean State"). Obviously there wouldn't be much use for "Frenzel" in most daily vocabulary but having a photography and sailing background I knew that lighthouses, anchor/masthead lights and different spotlights used fresnel glass, so I guessed. Some of the other definitions I knew but still consulted the 'ol dictionary and wikipedia for clarity. I'm glad Shoutatthesky put it up because I too have been seeing all kinds of abbreviations and occasional words and have no idea what they mean. I think it's best for some people to remember that you were beginners once too and didn't know everything. I read some of these sites and there is so much jargon and abbreviation that it's just a turn off.

I wanted someone to expand on the use of alternate gasses as used in diving applications (helium, nitrogen, hydrogen), I know some general applications but didn't feel qualified to expound on the subject matter.
Oh, and I was actually wondering if maybe some words were alternate spellings.
 
For a full description of the frenzel equalising technique see http://www.liquivision.ca/frenzel.doc

I would like the definitions to enable a person to understand the converstion in which they come across them. To achieve this I feel succinct definitions are best. People always have google to find out about subjects in more depth.
Also the definitions need to be freediving specific. A freediver doesn't need to know the atomic weight, source, other uses, etc of 'argon', but people may be aided in simply knowing its common uses in a support/safety divers configuration.
 
EQUALIZING - (the correct spelling of "equalising")

Um.... only in 1 country mate ! rofl

Trust the yanks to change the English language then try to tell other people how to spell. :) rofl
 
Phonetically 'equalizing' makes more sense. 'Z' representing a voiced sibilant as opposed to its voiceless counterpart 'S'.

equalizing - equalising
color - colour
metre - meter
mom - mum
Iraq - Irate
There is often more than one correct answer to a question. :)
 
'Trust the yanks to change the English language then try to tell other people how to spell. '

At least we stuck with the English system while you blokes got metricated.
 
Great work,

One little clarification - a frenulum actually refers to a bridge of tissue that impedes the movement of a mobile organ (eg the tongue). There are lots of frenulums in the body.

steff
 
What are you talking about Bill, Canada is Metric right ? :)

Sorry guys was just too funny not to take a stab, It's all good fun....
I remember a bunch of us Aussies were over for a freediving comp in Hawaii having a heated conversation :martial on how to pronounce "Aluminium", these US guys have a real funny way of saying it and nothing like the spelling.
In the end we looked in a US dictionary and the spelling was actually different. :t
 
Thanks Steff, I found that out but was wondering whether there were any other than the frenulum of the tongue that could be considered as relating to freediving. I will clarify.

Attached is the updated version. I haven't got to the frenulum clarification though.
 

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