MEASURING BLOOD

PRESSURE AND PULSE

RATE
Science Class
for 8 grader
 MEASURING BLOOD PRESSURE AND
PULSE RATE
DATE: ___________________

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

Basic Theory:
Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure exerted by blood on the walls of a
blood vessel that helps to push blood through the body. This blood
pressure is highest in the aorta. It decreases as the blood moves through
the arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins. Many factors can affect
blood pressure, such as hormones, stress, exercise, eating, sitting, and
standing. Blood flow through the body is regulated by the size of blood
vessels, by the action of smooth muscle, by one-way valves, and by the
fluid pressure of the blood itself. There are two components to blood
pressure:
Systolic blood pressure: measures the amount of pressure that blood
exerts on vessels while the heart is beating (contracting). The
optimal systolic blood pressure is 120 mmHg.
Diastolic blood pressure: measures the pressure in the vessels
between heartbeats (resting). The pressure is at its lowest point. The
optimal diastolic blood pressure is 80 mmHg.

Materials:
1. Sphygmomanometer
2. Stethoscope
3. Clock or watch
 Procedure A: Pulse Rate
Examine your lab partner’s radial pulse. To do this, follow these
steps:
1. Sit quietly, remaining as relaxed as possible.
2. Locate the pulse by placing your index and middle fingers over
the radial artery on the anterior surface of the wrist.
3. To determine the pulse rate, count the number of pulses that
occur in 1 minute. This can be accomplished by counting pulses
in 30 seconds and multiplying that number by 2.
4. Repeat the procedure and determine the pulse rate in each of
the following conditions:
immediately after standing
3-5 minutes after standing quietly
immediately after 3 minutes of exercise
3-5 minutes after exercise has ended.
6. note your result on the table

Procedure B: Blood Pressure

Measure your lab partner’s arterial blood pressure. To do this, follow
these steps:
1. Obtain a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope.
2. Have your partner sit quietly with a bare arm resting on a table
at heart level.
3. Locate the brachial artery at the above of the elbow. Wrap the
cuff of the sphygmomanometer around the arm so that its lower
border is about 2.5 cm above the end of the elbow. Center the tube
of the cuff in line with the brachial pulse.
4. Palpate the radial pulse. Close the valve on the neck of the rubber
bulb connected to the cuff, and pump air from the bulb into the
cuff. Inflate the cuff while watching the sphygmomanometer and
note the pressure when the pulse disappears. (This is a rough
estimate of the systolic pressure.) Immediately deflate the cuff.
 Procedure B: Blood Pressure
5. Re-inflate the cuff to a level 30 mm Hg higher than the point
where the pulse disappeared during palpation.
6. Slowly open the valve of the bulb until the pressure in the cuff
drops at a rate of about 2 or 3 mm Hg per second.
7. Continue to note the level when the last sound is heard. Record
this reading as the diastolic pressure, which means the constant
arterial resistance.
8. Release all of the pressure from the cuff.
9. Measure your partner’s blood pressure in each of the following
conditions:
3-5 minutes after standing quietly.
immediately after 3 minutes of exercise (omit if the person has
health problems).
3-5 minutes after exercise has ended
10. Note your result on the table

Data Analysis
Procedure A: Pulse Rate

BPM (Beats Per Minutes)

Activity
students 1 students 2 students 3 students n

sit

directly after stand up

3-5 mins after stand up

3 mins exercise

3-5 mins after exercise

Average

Procedure B: Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure (systole/diastole)

Activity
students 1 students 2 students 3 students n

sit

directly after stand up

3-5 mins after stand up

3 mins exercise

3-5 mins after exercise

Average

Discussion

Conclusion