Abstract: Antarctica is one of the places with the most extreme climates on Earth. How humans survive and adapt to the extreme environments in Antarctica is the main focus of Antarctic medical research. This review focuses on the progress of Chinese Antarctic medical research, the selection of expeditioners, and the formulation of relevant standards during the recent 20 years. The main achievements are as follows: 1) Under the condition of Antarctic overwintering, expeditioners may experience desynchronization of circadian rhythm, sleep disruptions, immune-neuroendocrine network dysregulation, and increased negative moods; 2) Under the environment of Antarctic inland, expeditioners may occur acute altitude sickness (AMS), decreased cardiovascular and pulmonary function, sleep disorders, and increased negative moods, such as fatigue; 3) Low blood oxygen saturation, increased AMS scores, cardiac conduction block, and increased negative moods are sensitive indicators for identifying hypoxia susceptible pre-selected inland expeditioners; 4) The only national industry standard for polar medicine, “The requirements of pre-departure physical examination for polar expeditioners”(HY/T 236-2018), was formulated, which provides key technical support for the scientific and standardized selection of expeditioners. In the future, we should continue to study the physiological and pathological changes and mechanisms of stress, adaptation, compensation, and injury of Chinese Antarctic expeditioners under extreme environments, providing scientific suggestions for the selection, adaptation, protection, station management, and related policy formulation of expeditioners.

Key words: Antarctic medicine, overwintering, ice sheet plateau hypoxia, physiopsychology, adaptation, selection