Advances in Physiology Education, Vol 265, Issue 6 20-S31, Copyright © 1993 by American Physiological Society
Integrated cardiovascular physiology: a laboratory exercise
R. D. Patil, S. V. Karve and S. E. DiCarlo
Department of Physiology, Northeastern Ohio Universities, College of Medicine, Rootstown 44272.
Examining the hemodynamic responses to exercise provides a unique
opportunity to analyze and integrate cardiovascular physiology because more
is learned about how a system operates when it is forced to perform than
when it is idle. We designed a laboratory exercise that examines the
cardiovascular responses to exercise in a sedentary individual, an athlete,
an individual with quadriplegia, and an individual with heart
transplantation. The special populations were chosen because of their
unique limitations and adaptations, which directly influence cardiovascular
function. Basic anatomic and physiological data about the special
populations are provided, and the students are challenged to analyze and
assimilate information from figures, answer questions, make calculations,
and plot graphs. The answers to the questions are provided in the APPENDIX.
This laboratory exercise should be attempted in a group to foster
discussions and interactions. The laboratory does not require any equipment
or software. This exercise should be attempted after the cardiovascular
section of the physiology course so that the students can integrate and
apply the information presented during the course.
