How does gravity’s force first act on the human body?
The human body is adapted to life on Earth. One factor that the human body has adapted to is gravity. We don’t realize it, but we use these senses everyday in keeping balance and having a sense of direction. However, most of these senses react differently in space and confuse the brain. In space, the force of gravity is actually still present, but slightly diminished. When in orbit, everything is in free-fall, which creates the feeling of weightlessness. This lesser gravity is called microgravity. Our brains use visual cues, the proprioceptive apparatus, and the vestibular apparatus. The proprioceptive apparatus is made up of the mechanical receptors in the muscles, tendons and joints and some pressure receptors on the skin, mostly on the bottom of the feet. The vestibular apparatus is made up of two important parts; the semicircular canals and the otolith organs. In space, these senses confuse the brain, rendering only the eyes as useful. One astronaut said that he felt that he had fl
