Tittle

Human Physiology

Objectives

- To determine the blood pressure and heart rate in different conditions

- To determine the human respiratory volume.

Introduction

Biology is a natural science that studies the life and living organism including their habitat,
function, development and evolution (University, 2004). Physiology is one of the main branches
of the biology and it is the scientific studies of mechanism and their interaction within living
things (Prosser, 1991). In this experiment, we will learn about human physiology and we will
specifically studies about the human respiratory system and blood circulatory system for the first
part. The second part, we will learn about our respiratory volume.

The most basic thing in our body is cells and this cell will lastly form system for our
body. The system like respiratory system, urinary system and blood circulatory system is really
important for our body. They help us to keep nutrients and waste in our body organized. This
makes our system in our body complex and can function efficiently. The systems can overlap
with each other which mean the other system can affect another system. For instant, our urinary
system can be affected by the digestion system. In this experiment, we will see the relationship
between respiratory system and blood circulatory system.

In this experiment, the blood pressure of a human subject will be measured using a blood
pressure sensor that is prepared in the laboratory. This blood pressure will be taken two times,
before and after being exposed to cold. The cold stimulus will activate the sympathetic nervous
system, which results in hemodynamic change that prepares the body for a “fight or flight”
response. The sensitivity of the blood pressure to harmful external or internal injuries makes it
useful as a vital sign for the indicator of health, excitement, disease and stress.

The respiratory volumes are also examined using the spirometer. The total capacity of the
lungs is divided into various volumes and capacities according to the function of these in the
intake or exhalation of air. The total amount of air one’s lung can possible hold can be
subdivided into four volumes, as shown in the figure below.

Apparatus and materials

Blood pressure sensor, cold water, spirometer

Procedures

A. Blood pressure as a vital sign

1. The subject was sat in a chair quietly with their forearm resting on a table surface.
2. The blood pressure and heart rate was checked by using the Blood Pressure sensor and was
written down in a table.
3. The supine blood pressure and heart rate was checked and written down in a table.
4. The subject was asked to do continuous squats for one minute, The blood pressure (B) and
heart rate was then taken immediately, for every 1 minute up to 5 minutes and was written
down in a table.
B. Human respiratory volume
1. Tidal volume (TV)
A) The spirometer dial was set to zero (0). After taking a normal inspiration, the mouth-
piece was placed upon the subject’s mouth and a normal expiration was exhaled into the
spirometer. Conscious effort was made by the subject to not exceed their normal value.
B) The amount exhaled on the dial was read and written in a table.
C) The respiratory rate per minute was counted by counting the respiratory cycle for 1
minute while the subject was still at seated at the chair.
D) To calculate the resting respiratory minute volume, the tidal volume was multiplied by
the respiratory rate per minute.
2. Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV)
A) The spirometer dial was set to zero (0).
B) After a normal expiration, the mouth-piece was placed inside the subject’s mouth and
forcefully exhaled as much air as possible into the spirometer.
3. Vital Capacity (VC)
A) The spirometer dial was set at zero (0).
B) Subject was asked to inhale as deeply as possible. A mouthpiece was then placed in the
subject’s mouth while their nose was held and exhaled into the spirometer with maximum
effort.
C) The measurement was repeated 3 times and the largest volume was recorded in the table.
4. Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) and Inspiration Capacity (IC)
A) The IRV and IC was calculated from the 3 previous volume measurements.
Results

A. Blood pressure as a vital sign

Table 1. Blood pressure and heart rate readings

Systolic Diastolic Mean arterial Heart rate

Pressure Pressure pressure (beats/min)
(mmHg) (mmHg) (mmHg)
Sitting on chair 119 72 88 76
Supine (laying 133 70 91 73
on back)

Table 2. Blood pressure and heart rate readings response to continuous squats

Systolic Diastolic Mean arterial Heart rate

Pressure Pressure pressure (beats/min)
(mmHg) (mmHg) (mmHg)
Min 1 146 79 94 128
Min 2 124 76 92 117
Min 3 117 74 88 112
Min 4 131 75 94 107
Min 5 116 81 93 104

Table 3. Blood pressure and heart rate readings response to cold water

Systolic Diastolic Mean arterial Heart rate

Pressure Pressure pressure (beats/min)
(mmHg) (mmHg) (mmHg)
30 second 124 61 82 82
60 second 111 61 78 87
90 second 108 58 75 85
120 second 106 58 74 81
150 second 103 51 68 86
180 second 108 53 71 82

B. Human respiratory volume

Table 4. Respiratory volumes

Respiratory volumes Value (mL)

Tidal volume (TV) 1400
Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) 300mL
Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV) 2300
Residual Volume (RV) 1200
Total Lung Capacity (TLC) 5200.0
Vital Capacity (VC) 4000.0
Functional Residual Capacity (FRC) 3500.0
Inspiratory Capacity (IC) 1700.0

TV= 1400 mL

IRV=VC-(TV+ERV)

=4000-(1400+2300)

=300mL

IC=IRV+TV

=300mL+1400

=1700mL

FRC=RV+ERV

=1200+2300

=3500mL
TLC=TV+IRV+ERV+RV

=1400+300+2300+1200

=5200mL

Discussion

A. Blood pressure as a vital sign

When using the blood pressure sensor, the subject was advised to sit still as any involuntary
movement would hinder the measurement of the systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and heart
rate. The same rules are applied also when the subject is lying on their back on the floor. From
table 1, it can be observed that the systolic pressure of the subject is higher when they are lying
on their back of 133mmHg in comparison to the when they are sitting on a chair which is only
119mmHg. In contrast, the diastolic pressure when sitting down is 72 mmHg, which is higher
than the supine position which is only 70 mmHg. Using the equation mean arterial pressure =
(systolic pressure + diastolic pressure X 2) / 3, the mean arterial pressure is calculated. From the
table, the mean arterial pressure is 88 mmHg when sitting down, making it higher than when in
supine position which is 91 mmHg. The heart rate when sitting down is higher at 76 beats/ min
when compared to the supine position at only 73 beats/ min. There is an error in the value of the
systolic pressure and mean arterial pressure for supine position because it is supposed to be
lower than the sitting down position, as evident by the diastolic pressure, heart rate being lower
than when sitting down. This is because the blood pressure level is supposed to be lower while
measured in lying position and is higher when measured in sitting position due to the heart
needing to pump for supplying blood to brain. While lying down it require less work to pump
and the head is in similar level of heart and that’s why blood pressure level is low. At the time of
sitting their head is lot higher and need to work harder to supply blood to the brain, causing the
blood pressure to be higher.

For the first activity, the subject had done continuous squats for one minute and then their heart
beat and blood pressure was measured in intervals of 1 minute until the minute five. From table
2, it can be seen that the systolic pressure is very high initially due to the need of the body to
supply oxygen to the body to compensate the loss of it because of the exercise they had just
done. The systolic pressure continued to decrease until it was back to normal conditions. The
exception is at minute 4, where the systolic pressure jumped up from 117 mmHg at minute 3 to
131mmHg. This might be because the subject might have talk during the measurement making
the value go higher or because it is going starting to back to the normal condition. The same
could be said for the trend in diastolic pressure and mean arterial pressure as it also deceases the
longer the time went on, with the exception of diastolic pressure at minute 3, where it started
increasing as the minutes passed, probably due to the breathing going back to normal. The heart
beat decreases as the minutes passed by as well. The blood pressure and heart beat was high
because when exercising, many muscles all require nutrients and elimination of waste products
constantly at the same time and to meet this demand the heart must rapidly increase the rate at
which it beats and pushes blood through the body. This is why the heart
beats significantly faster during exercise and still is after a minute.

For the second activity, the subject held a cup of cold ice water for several minutes to see the
response the blood pressure and heart beat to the contact. As can be seen from table 3, the
systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, mean arterial pressure and heart beat decreases as time
passed on. This is because of the cold stimulus will activate the sympathetic nervous system,
resulting in hemodynamic change that prepares the body for a “fight or flight” response.

B. Human respiratory volume

From the table, the inspiratory reserve volume is 300mL, the expiratory reserve volume is
2300mL, with the residual volume being 1200mL. The total lung capacity is 5200mL, which is
lower than an average adult male which has 6000mL. The vital capacity is also 4000mL. The
functional residual capacity is 3500mL and the subject’s inspiratory capacity 4300mL.

Conclusion

The blood pressure and heart rate is different in various conditions, whether it be position,
temperature or even during exercise. When one is in contact with cold water, their blood pressure
and heart rate will drop and when lying down on one’s back, their heart rate and blood pressure
is lower than sitting down due to their position. After exercising, a person’s blood pressure and
heart rate will sharply increase. The human respiratory volume of the subject is much lower than
the average adult male should be, meaning the respiratory volume differs from person to person.

References

Prosser, C. L. (1991). Comparative Animal Physiology, Environmental and Metabolic Animal Physiology
(4th ed.). Hoboken: Wiley-Liss.

University, T. S. (2004). Aquarena Wetlands Project glossary of terms. San Marcos: Texas State
University.

Reflection

This experiment is fun because I don't have to do much and I'm not the one that has to be the
subject. The only regret I have is that I don't have much time to experimenting with the blood
pressure sensor. Maybe if I get the chance again, I will be using that as much as I can.