Leah Cardinale
Human Circulation Lab
Background: Gas exchange between blood and tissue depends on pulmonary ventilation
and blood circulation. In this exercise, you will examine cardiovascular responses to
changes in posture and to the increased O2 demands of exercise.
PROCEDURE
Record your results in the appropriate tables at the end of the lab. In addition, data for all
students need to be collected, pooled and made available to all students for analysis.
How to take a pulse:
The pulse can be felt at several points on the surface of the body. The most convenient
point is the radial pulse located on the underside of the wrist.
1. Use your index finger to detect a tapping sensation on her writs.
2. Count the number of beats in a 30-second period and multiply this value by 2.
This will give you the number of beats in one minute.
How to take a blood pressure:
The cuff is placed on the subject’s arm above the elbow. It should be on snuggly, but not
too tight. The stethoscope is placed under the bottom edge of the cuff.
1. Make sure you are set up first before inflating the cuff.
2. Make sure the dial of the bulb is turned all the way to the right. Pump the cuff
to about 200 mmHg.
3. Slowly release the air by turning the dial to the left. Listen closely and
watch the gauge!
4. The 1st sounds heard = systolic pressure
The last sounds heard = diastolic pressure
Procedure:
1. Each subject has to classify themselves as being in "good physical condition" (do
you participate in sports or exercise regularly) or in "average physical condition,”
or below-average condition".
2. One partner lies on the floor with the sphygmomanometer in place on your arm.
Do not talk or look around. After the subject has been lying quietly for 2 minutes,
the experimenter takes the subjects pulse and blood pressure. Record in Table 1.
3. The subject stands up quickly, but without talking or moving about the room. The
experimenter, as rapidly as possible, measure the subject's pulse rate and blood
pressure. You have to be fast to detect the changes. Enter these values in Table 1.
4. Wait 3 minutes (subject is still standing quietly) and re-take the pulse and blood
pressure. Record results in Table 1.
5. The subject now does jumping jacks (one full jack per second) for 2 minutes.
6. After two minutes of exercising, obtain data on blood pressure and pulse. To do
this efficiently, measure the variable for a brief period of time (i.e. 10 seconds)
and multiply by the appropriate conversion factor (ie. multiply by 6)
7. Continue to monitor continually at 2-minute intervals for a total of 6 mins.
Enter the data onto Table 2.
8. Enter your results of Table 1 and 2 into the document below. These will then be
used as Tables 3a and 3b.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_aeAn_4wu7MQw5n-
drHFp_7QBrZED43O/edit?
usp=sharing&ouid=110437163279847516235&rtpof=true&sd=true
9. Make a bar graph of the average systolic pressures and diastolic pressures using
Table 3a.
a. Be sure to plot time on the x axis and average blood pressure (systolic and
diastolic) on the y axis; make appropriate intervals/scales on your axes,
label your axes, and title your graph.
b. Indicate with an asterisk your blood pressure results from Table 2 on this
graph.
10. Make a bar graph of the average pulse rates using Table 3b.
a. Be sure to plot time on the x axis and average pulse rates on the y axis;
make appropriate intervals/scales on your axes, label your axes, and title
your graph.
b. Indicate with an asterisk your pulse rate results from Table 2 on this
graph.
11. Summarize your results. Note any trends (increase, decrease, timing patterns).
Explain why these results are expected/unexpected.
12. Summarize the class results. Note any trends (increase, decrease, timing patterns).
Explain why these results are expected/unexpected.
13. Answer the Analysis Questions.
Hand in only the Data Sheet and your graphs!
Name: Date:
Partner(s):
Data Sheet for Human Circulation Lab
My Physical Condition: Above Average (above average, average, below average)
Table 1: The effect of position on my blood pressure
Posture Blood Pressure (mm Hg) Pulse Rate (bpm)
Laying down 110/60 68
Standing - 0 seconds 110/70 70
Standing – 2 minutes 120/68 74
Standing – 5 minutes 100/70 88
Table 2: Effect of exercise on my blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration
Time after Blood pressure (mm Hg) Pulse Rate (bpm)
exercise
2 minutes 130/68 91
4 minutes 140/88 92
6 minutes 132/86 97
Summary of My Results (Tables 1 &2):
My heart rate and blood pressure were lower when I was not exercising but when I
moved around, they both climbed.
Summary of Class Results (Tables 3a & 3b from PlusPortals):
The class results mirrored mine. They would decrease when lying down and when they
were standing/active increase.
Analysis Questions:
1. Explain why blood pressure and heart rate differ when a person is prone
versus standing.
a. When you are standing, gravity makes your heart rate and blood pressure
increase. When a person stands up, their blood rushes towards the lower
body. When pronating, a person has lower heart rate and blood pressure
because their body parts are at the same level as their heart and they do not
need to exert extra force to pump blood to the heart.
2. Moderate exercise is recommended for adults. How does this help improve
cardiovascular functioning?
a. It helps improve cardiovascular functioning by improving the muscle’s
ability to take oxygen out of the blood. By doing so, the heart does not
need to pump more blood to the muscles. The biggest improvement is that
it eliminates unnecessary strain on the heart since regular exercise will
decrease heart rate and blood pressure.
3. What are some complications of high blood pressure?
a. Heart attack or stroke, aneurysm, heart failure, vision dysfunctions,
dementia, and heart failure are some.
4. Explain the effects of smoking cigarettes on the cardiovascular system.
a. Cigarettes cause blood pressure and heart rate to spike. Blood vessels will
be damaged and there will be an increased risk for blood clots. Less
oxygen will reach the body’s tissues and blood flow is reduced from the
heart.
**Attach your graphs to this Data Sheet!
