Collins K J
Centre for Geriatric Medicine, University College Hospitals, London, UK.
Ann Hum Biol. 1999 Jan-Feb;26(1):19-38. doi: 10.1080/030144699282958.
This review traces some of the developments in population physiology based on contributions to the Annals over the last 25 years. Two broad themes are evident, physiological systems variation and adaptation, and by way of introduction an historical perspective of their relationship within human ecology is explored. Studies of physical fitness and work capacity, and the efforts to create standardized field procedures make up a number of the early papers. Longitudinal studies have provided reliable reference standards for Westernized populations, but are virtually non-existent for primitive groups. The relative importance of phenotypic and genotypic variations in working capacity have yet to be clearly defined. The level of habitual activity during childhood contributes to the development of ventilatory capacity though constitutional influences are of major importance. Variability in strength and motor performance of skeletal muscles are shown to have a direct bearing on aspects of growth, development and biological maturation. Physical and psychological stress in communities have been investigated. These and other studies contribute valuable data on the issue of stress, hypertension and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. On the theme of human adaptability, high altitude populations, variations in thermal tolerance and adaptations in ageing populations have all received recent investigation. Highland people of all ages have considerably larger lung volumes than coastal dwellers. Haematological, biochemical and pulmonary function show adaptive phenomena that vary in different highland groups. In the tropical biome, more recent work includes the functional consequences of malnutrition, ethnic and cultural differences in work capacity, and the effects of endemic disease on physical performance. Annals of Human Biology papers have more recently contributed to investigations on morphological and physiological changes with human ageing. Though there is a decline in the ability to adapt to environmental stresses with age this may be met by changes in adaptational strategy in physiological systems.
本综述基于过去25年在《人类生物学纪事》上发表的文章，追溯了群体生理学的一些发展历程。有两个明显的广泛主题，即生理系统的变异与适应，作为引言，还探讨了它们在人类生态学中的关系的历史视角。关于身体素质和工作能力的研究，以及创建标准化现场程序的努力构成了一些早期论文的内容。纵向研究为西方化人群提供了可靠的参考标准，但对于原始群体几乎不存在此类研究。工作能力中表型和基因型变异的相对重要性尚未明确界定。童年时期的习惯性活动水平有助于通气能力的发展，尽管体质影响至关重要。骨骼肌力量和运动表现的变异性被证明与生长、发育和生物成熟的各个方面直接相关。对社区中的身心压力进行了调查。这些研究以及其他研究为压力、高血压以及心血管疾病的发病率和死亡率问题提供了宝贵的数据。关于人类适应性这一主题，高海拔人群、热耐受性变异以及老年人群的适应情况最近都受到了研究。所有年龄段的高地人肺容积都比沿海居民大得多。血液学、生物化学和肺功能显示出不同高地群体中各不相同的适应性现象。在热带生物群落中，最近的工作包括营养不良的功能后果、工作能力方面的种族和文化差异，以及地方病对身体表现的影响。《人类生物学纪事》的论文最近也为关于人类衰老过程中的形态和生理变化的研究做出了贡献。尽管随着年龄增长适应环境压力的能力会下降，但生理系统中适应策略的变化可能会弥补这一点。
