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Lab 41: Pulse Rate and Blood Pressure

PURPOSE:
To examine the pulse, to determine the pulse rate, to measure blood pressure, and to investigate the effects of body position and exercise on pulse rate and blood pressure. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Determine pulse rate
2. Test the effect of various factors on pulse rate
3. Measure blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer
4. Test the effect of various factors on blood pressure 

PROCEDURE:
1. Review the section on ‘Circulatory Physiology’, chapter 13, pages 394-396, and “Cardiovascular Regulation’ on pages 398-403

 2. Complete Part A in your Lab Notebook

 3. To examine your partner’s radial pulse:

a. Have your partner sit quietly and remain as relaxed as possible
b. Locate the pulse by placing your index and middle finger over the radial artery on the anterior surface of the wrist.  Do not use your thumb for sensing the pulse because you may feel the pulse coming from the artery in the thumb itself
c. Note the characteristics of the pulse.  That is it could be described as regular or irregular, strong or weak, hard or soft
d. To determine pulse rate, count the number of pulses that occur in one minute 

4. Repeat the procedure and determine the pulse rate in each of the following conditions:

a. immediately after lying down
b. 5 minutes after lying down
c. immediately after standing
d. 5 minutes after standing
e. immediately after 3 minutes of strenuous exercise
f. 5  minutes after exercise 

5. Complete part B of the Lab report

6. To measure your partner’s arterial blood pressure.
a. Obtain a sphygmomanometer
b. Have your partner sit quietly and remain as relaxed as possible
c. Wrap the cuff of the sphygmomanometer around the upper arm so that it’s lower border is about 2.5 cm (1 inch) above the bend inside the elbow
d. Use the automated sphygmomanometer as directed to measure the blood pressure
e. When the device has finished, release the pressure in the cuff using valve on the bulb
f. Repeat two more times (take a 2-3 minute break between measures) so that you have three resting measurements of blood pressure
g. Enter your results in part C and then average both the systolic and diastolic measures

 7. Measure your partner’s blood pressure in each of the following conditions:

a. immediately after lying down
b. 5 minutes after lying down
c. immediately after standing
d. 5 minutes after standing
e. immediately after 3 minutes of strenuous exercise
f. 5 minutes after exercise 

8. Complete part C of the Lab report

9. For your synopsis, summarize the effects that body position and exercise has on pulse rate and blood pressure

PART A

Complete the following statements

1. Blood pressure is the force exerted against the ___________________

2. The term blood pressure is most commonly used to refer to __________________ pressure 

3. The maximum pressure achieved during ventricular contraction is called _________________

4. The lowest that remains in the arterial system during ventricular relaxation is called _______________

5. Blood pressure rises and falls in a pattern that corresponding to the phases of the ___________________ 

6. A pulse is caused by the _____________________

PART B

Enter your observations of pulse characteristics and pulse rates in the chart:

PART C

1. Enter your initial measurements of blood pressure in the chart:

2. Enter your test results in the chart: