CEBU DOCTORS’ UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF PHARMACY

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY MANUAL

EXERCISE NO. 12
THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

Date of Performance: __________

Introduction:
The blood, heart and blood vessels together make up the cardiovascular system.
This system is designed to transport blood to all cells of the body. Blood delivers
substances such as oxygen, nutrients and hormones, and removes carbon dioxide and
various waste products from cells. In order to perform its functions, blood must circulate
throughout the body. This is accomplished by the heart, which serves as the pump and
by the blood vessels, which bring blood from the heart to body cells.

Objectives:
1. Describe the location of the heart.
2. Name and describe the covering and lining tissues of the heart.
3. Name and locate the major anatomical areas & structures of the heart when provided
with an appropriate model, image, & describe the function of each.
4. Distinguish between blood vessels carrying oxygen-rich blood and those carrying
carbon dioxide–rich blood and describe the system used to color code them in
images.
5. Explain why the heart is called a double pump, and compare the pulmonary and
systemic circuits.
6. Trace the pathway of blood through the heart.

Activity 12.A. Structures of the Human Heart

I. Location of the heart. In less than 3 sentences, describe the location of the heart.
Flanked on each side of the lungs and its pointed apex is directed toward the hip and rests on the diaphragm,
approximately of the fifth intercostal space.

II. The Pericardium. Describe the location of the ff.: fibrous pericardium, serous
pericardium, parietal layer, visceral layer and serous fluid.

The inner surface of the fibrous pericardium is lined by the outer (parietal) layer of serous pericardium. The inner
(visceral) layer of the serous pericardium lines the outer surface of the heart itself. Between the two layers of the
serous pericardium is the pericardial cavity, which contains pericardial fluid. It is this fluid that provides lubrication
between the two layers, and allows the heart to expand and contract..

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CEBU DOCTORS’ UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY MANUAL

III. Provide an external anterior anatomy of the
a. Aortic arch
b. Apex
c. Ascending aorta
d. Brahiocephalic trunk
e. Inferior venacava
f. Left atrium
g. Left common carotid artery
h. Left coronary artery
i. Left pulmonary artery
human heart and label the ff. parts:
j. Left pulmonary vein
k. Left subclavian artery
l. Left ventricle
m. Pulmonary trunk
n. Right atrium
o. Right coronary artery
p. Right pulmonary artery
q. Right ventricles
r. Superior vena cava

IV. Provide a frontal section of the human heart and label the parts mentioned
above.

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CEBU DOCTORS’ UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY MANUAL

Activity 12.B. Auscultation of Heart Sounds

Material:
Stethoscope Alcohol swab Stopwatch/Timer

Procedure:
1. Using an alcohol swab, clean the earpieces of the stethoscope. Allow the alcohol
to dry.
2. Put on the earpieces. Notice that the earpieces are angled. For comfort, place
the angle of earpieces in a forward direction when you place the earpiece to your
ears.
3. Place the diaphragm of the stethoscope on your partner’s thorax, just medial to
the left nipples at the fifth intercostals space.
4. Listen carefully to your partner’s heart sounds. The first sound will be a longer
and louder than the second, which is short and sharp.
5. After listening for a couple of minutes, try to time the pause between the second
sound of one heartbeat and the first sound of the subsequent heartbeat.

How long is this interval? _______ sec

How does it compare to the interval between the first and second sound of a single
heartbeat? __________________________________________________________

Activity 12.C. Taking Pulse Rate

Material:
Stethoscope Stopwatch/Timer

Procedure:
1. In this activity, you will be needing to work in trio.
2. Let your subject sit quietly.
3. Using a stethoscope, determine the apical pulse, by placing the diaphragm of a
stethoscope over the fifth left intercostals space.
4. At the same time, another person should take the radial pulse by laying the index
and third fingers on the inside of the subject’s wrist below the base of the thumb.
5. Note the number of beats per minute for each site (apical and radial) for one
minute. The person taking the radial pulse will determine the starting point and
give the stop signal after 1 minute.
6. Record your observation below.
Apical count = ___________ beats/minute
Radial count = ___________ beats/minute
Pulse Deficit = ___________ beats/minute
*determine the pulse deficit by subtracting the apical count with the radial count.

Why is the apical pulse slightly faster than the radial pulse?_________________
________________________________________________________________

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CEBU DOCTORS’ UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY MANUAL

Activity 12.D. Palpation of the Pulse

Material:
Stopwatch/Timer

Procedure:
1. Have your partner sit quietly.
2. Using your index and third fingers, palpate the following pulse or pressure points,
by placing your fingers over the area where the artery is located. (Note: Never
the thumb in measuring a pulse because it has a faint pulse of its own).
a. Radial pulse
b. Brachial pulse
c. Common carotid artery
3. Count the pulse in each are for 1 minute and record your observation.
Radial pulse = ______________ beats/minute
Brachial pulse = ______________ beats/minute
Common carotid pulse= ______________ beats/minute
Of all the 9 pulse or pressure points, which has the greatest amplification (force)?
Which has the least? Provide an explanation for this ________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Activity 12.D. Blood Pressure Determination

Material:
Sphygmomanometer Sthetoscope

Procedure:
1. Have your pair sit quietly.
2. Clean the earpieces of the stethoscope using an alcohol swab.
3. Check the cuff for the presence of any trapped air and remove it by compressing
the cuff against the table. (Note: A partially inflated cuff will produce erroneous
blood pressure reading).
4. Rest your partner’s arm on the laboratory table (preferably level to the heart).
5. Wrap the cuff snugly around your partner’s arm, just above the elbow, with the
inflatable area on the medial arm surface. If the cuff is marked with an arrow, place
the arrow over the brachial artery.
6. Secure the cuff by tucking the distal end under the wrapped portion or by bringing
the Velcro areas together.
7. Palpate the brachial pulse and place the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the
pulse point.
8. Inflate the cuff to approximately 160mm Hg pressure to stop the flow of blood into
the forearm. Then slowly release the pressure valve.
9. Watch the pressure gauge as you listen for the first soft thudding sound of the
blood spurting through the partially blocked artery. These characteristic sounds,

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CEBU DOCTORS’ UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY MANUAL

called the Korotkoff sounds, indicate that flow of blood in the forearm has resumed.
Make a mental note of the pressue when you hear the first sound and record it as
the systolic pressure.
Note: Do note keep the cuff inflated for more than 1 minute. Prolonged interruption
of blood flow may cause fainting. If you have difficulty in reading within this time,
deflate the cuff, wait for 2 minutes, and try again.
10. Continue releasing the pressure from the cuff. You will notice first an increase,
then a muffling, of the sound.
11. Note the pressure at which the sounds disappear and the blood flows freely.
Record this as diastolic pressure.
12. Make two blood pressure readings and record your results.

First reading: Second reading:

Systolic pressure: _______ mm Hg Systolic pressure: _______ mm Hg
Diastolic pressure: _______ mm Hg Diastolic pressure: _______ mm Hg

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