Would an unprotected person subjected to the vacuum of space actually inflate and or explode?

In the James Bond movie "Live and Let Die", the Mr. Big character swallows a gas expelling bullet. I know this was just a special effect, but can a vacuum actually cause this type of body or skin expansion.

Would an unprotected person subjected to the vacuum of space actually inflate and or explode?
Not like a balloon. The body would swell up probably to about twice its volume. This is due to the evaporation pressure of water inside the cells, causing them to expand. This process would not be immediate, though. I think it would take a couple of hours.
Reply:Try it and let us know the results. I expect a full report in the morning. Just go borrow a few vacuum cleaners and get about a 75 gallon supersized trash bag.........
Reply:Probably rupture not explode. Space is a vacuum. You have blood pressure that pushes against air pressure. Eliminate air pressure and it would be like a tire tube bursting that pushes beyond its outer shell.


Not a pretty picture.


That is if you don't fry or freeze as well as suffocate at the same time.
Reply:Neither.


Contrary to popular belief, a person suddenly exposed unprotected to space would not explode, freeze to death (space may be cold, but it's mostly vacuum and the main temperature concern for astronauts is how to get rid of body heat), or die from boiling blood. It would take a short while to die by asphyxiation (suffocation).


Air would immediately leave the lungs due to the enormous pressure difference. Any oxygen dissolved in the blood would empty into the lungs to try to equalize the partial pressure. Once the deoxygenated blood arrived at the brain, death would quickly follow. Water vapor would also rapidly evaporate off from exposed areas such as the lungs, cornea of the eye and mouth, cooling the body.

elephant foot