Vernier Software & Technology

# Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Exercise

## Introduction

The adaptability of the heart can be observed during exercise, when the metabolic activity of skeletal muscles increases. The cardiovascular system, consisting of the heart and blood vessels, responds to exercise with an increase in heart rate and strength of contraction with each beat, resulting in a higher cardiac output (cardiac output = quantity of blood pumped through the heart per unit of time) and blood pressure. Positive pressure is created by forceful contraction of the left ventricle of the heart, measured as systole. It is maintained during relaxation of the ventricle by closure of the aortic valve and recoil of arteries, measured as diastole.

Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is a useful measure of the adequacy of tissue perfusion, and is not a simple average of systolic and diastolic blood pressures. This is because diastole continues for twice as long as systole. MAP can be reasonably approximated using the equation:

$\frac{{(systole + 2(diastole))}} {3}{\text{ = }}MAP$

## Objectives

In this experiment, you will

• Obtain graphic representation of heart rate and blood pressure.
• Determine the effect of exercise on heart rate, and systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures.
• Use blood pressure readings and pulse to infer changes in cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance with exercise.
• Correlate the fitness level of individuals with amount of daily exercise.

## Sensors and Equipment

This experiment features the following Vernier sensors and equipment.

You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?

## Human Physiology with Vernier

See other experiments from the lab book.

 1 Warming Function of Nasal Passageways 2 Effect of Vascularity on Skin Temperature Recovery 3 Heart Rate as a Vital Sign 4 Heart Rate and Exercise 5 Heart Rate Response to Baroreceptor Feedback 6 Effect of Coughing on Heart Rate 7 Blood Pressure as a Vital Sign 8 Blood Pressure and Exercise 9 Diurnal Blood Pressure Variation 10 Heart Rate and Blood Pressure as Vital Signs 11 Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Exercise 12 Analyzing the Heart with EKG 13 Introduction to EMG 14A Neuromuscular Reflexes (with Accelerometer) 14B Neuromuscular Reflexes (without Accelerometer) 15 Muscle Function Analysis 16 Grip Strength Comparison 17 Grip Strength and Muscle Fatigue 18 EMG and Muscle Fatigue 19 Lung Volumes and Capacities 20 Respiratory Response to Physiologic Challenges 21 Analysis of Lung Function 22 Oxygen and Aerobic Metabolism 23 Oxygen Extraction by the Lungs 24 Effect of "Dead Space" on Oxygen Exchange

### Experiment 11 from Human Physiology with Vernier Lab Book

#### Included in the Lab Book

Vernier lab books include word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.