Criteria for Determining the Adaptive Capacity of Students of Higher Medical Institutions

The article focuses on the importance of the adaptive capacity of students of higher medical institutions in the process of their professional training. The criteria for evaluating the adaptive capacity of students depending on their age were determined. The main mechanisms of forming the adaptive capacity at the organism level were found to be: 1) biochemical mechanisms which manifest themselves in the intracellular processes, e.g. the change in enzyme activity or their number; 2) physiological mechanisms, e.g. increased sweating as the body temperature rises; 3) morphofunctional mechanisms, i.e. the features of body structure and functions which are associated with lifestyle; 4) behavioural mechanisms – e.g. the creation of comfortable living conditions, etc.; 5) ontogenetic mechanisms, i.e. the acceleration of individual development or its slowdown contributing to the survival when conditions change.