What is the primary mechanism causing astronauts to temporarily increase in height?
Answer
Decompression and swelling of intervertebral discs
The primary mechanism involves spinal unloading. Gravity no longer compresses the intervertebral discs, which are gel-filled cushions, allowing them to decompress, absorb fluid, and swell, thus lengthening the spinal column.
#Videos
Why Do You Grow Taller In Space? - YouTube
Related Questions
What is the primary mechanism causing astronauts to temporarily increase in height?Approximately how much can an astronaut's height increase while aboard the ISS?How is the temporary height gain in space different from developmental growth?What physiological adjustment is closely related to the change in astronaut height?What discomfort can sometimes result from the upward shift of body fluids in space?How quickly does an astronaut's height typically return to normal after landing on Earth?What is a practical implication of increased height on the ISS regarding clothing and equipment?To what specific state is an astronaut's continuous height in space analogous, relative to Earth measurements?What serious, long-term musculoskeletal challenge is the trade-off for temporary spinal elongation?What is mandated by space agencies to counteract the deconditioning caused by microgravity?What must medical teams account for during immediate post-landing assessments of returning crew members regarding their physical state?