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Cardiac Cycle Lab-1
Cardiac Cycle Lab-1
Overview
In this lab, we will observe the mechanical events of the cardiac cycle in an active frog heart. Students will
investigate the regulatory effects of temperature and chemical compounds on heart rate and contractile
strength. In addition students will induce and record the events of atrioventricular heart block and pre-mature
ventricular contractions.
Lab Objectives
Describe the function of the myograph transducer in recording the cardiac cycle.
Identify the phases of the cardiac cycle on a myogram recording.
Describe the effects of temperature and various chemicals on heart rate and force of contraction.
Compare and contrast incomplete and complete heart block. Differentiate between first-degree,
second-degree, and third-degree heart block.
Describe how heart block was induced in lab.
Describe how a pre-mature ventricular contraction (extra systole) was induced in lab. Define the term
compensatory pause and explain why it occurs following an extra systole.
Explain the significance of a long refractory period in the heart and how it differs from other types of
muscle.
Calculate the time intervals of atrial systole / diastole and ventricular systole / diastole, as well as the
heart rate using a myogram recording.
Calculate force of atrial and ventricular systole using a myogram recording.
Calculate percent change in heart rate.
Introductory Notes
Frog Heart
The frog heart is a good model for our cardiac cycle lab because frogs are cold-blooded vertebrates
(ectotherms) with a low metabolic rate at room temperature. The frog heart beats slowly, allowing us to easily
observe the mechanical activity of the cardiac cycle. Amphibians can respire through their skin as long as it is
kept moist and cool thus supplying the heart with oxygen. The heart will continue to beat when excised from
the body due to its intrinsic contractile properties. Human hearts have the same ability but must be supplied
with a constant flow of warm, oxygenated blood.
The frog heart differs from the human heart anatomically in that they have three chambers instead of four. The
frog heart has a right and left atria and a single ventricle. Blood returning from the lungs and body mixes in
the single ventricle chamber however, due to the structure of the ventricle and the low pressure of the system
the blood mixing isnt extensive. The pacemaker in the amphibian heart is the sinus venosus, which sits on the
posterior side of the heart.
Force (g)
Cardiac Cycle
The cardiac cycle consists of atrial systole and diastole followed by ventricular systole and diastole. These are
the events, which take place in one complete heartbeat. These phases are controlled by the contraction of
myocardial cells, which are stimulated by the autorhythmic cells.
Atrial
Systole
Atrial
Diastole
Ventricular
Systole
Time (seconds)
Ventricular
Diastole
Experimental Procedures
Determination of the Phases of a Cardiac Cycle
1. Set the physiograph paper speed to 1cm/sec to determine the horizontal calibration.
2. Determine the vertical calibration for force by hanging a 1g weight from the myograph
transducer. Turn record on and note the vertical deflection. Remove the weight.
3. Record one full page of the normal cardiac cycle rhythm.
- Distinguish between the atrial and ventricular contractions.
- Label both atrial systole and diastole and ventricular systole and diastole.
- Calculate the length of time of one complete cardiac cycle.
- Calculate the heart rate.
- Calculate the grams of force of atrial systole and ventricular systole.
- Using the practice myogram handout, complete these measurements and record results on your data
sheet.
The Effects of Temperature on the Frog Cardiac Cycle
1. Prepare the following solutions:
8C Ringers solution (icy)
25C Ringers solution (room temperature)
40C Ringers solution (warmed on hot plate)
2. Drop warm Ringers solution onto the heart and record the heart contractions.
3. Rinse the heart with room temperature Ringers solution and record the heart contractions.
4. Drop cold Ringers solution onto the heart and record the heart contractions.
5. Using the practice handout, calculate the heart rate induced by each of these conditions and determine the
"percent change in temperature" of the warm and cold solutions verses room temperature. Record results
on the data sheet.
6. Rinse the heart with room temperature Ringers solution.
The Effects of Chemicals on the Frog Cardiac Cycle
1. Record the effects of the following chemicals on the cardiac cycle:
.1% epinephrine
.1% acetylcholine
.1% atropine
2. Place 2 drops of the epinephrine solution on the heart (on the sinus venosus if you can), wait
approximately 30 seconds, and then begin recording. Record until the effects on heart rate and/or force of
contraction are observed.
3. Wash heart thoroughly with Ringers to rinse off epinephrine and to establish a new normal baseline.
4. Place 1-2 drops of acetylcholine on the heart, wait approximately 30 seconds, and then begin recording.
Record until the effects on heart rate and/or force of contraction are observed.
5. Do not wash off the acetylcholine solution.
6. Place 2 drops of atropine on the heart, begin recording immediately. Record until the effects on heart rate
and/or force of contraction are observed.
7. Wash heart completely with Ringers to rinse off chemicals and to establish a new normal baseline.
8. Using the practice handout, calculate the heart rate and contractile force induced by each of these
chemicals and determine whether each agent was chronotropic and/or inotropic in its effects. Record
results on the data sheet.
Name:________________
Lab Section:________________
DATA SHEET: THE CARDIAC CYCLE IN THE FROG
CARDIAC CYCLE PRACTICE MEASUREMENTS DATA
Normal Cardiac Cycle:
Vertical calibration (magnitude):
_____g / _____cm
Horizontal calibration (paper speed): _____cm / second
Force of atrial contraction
__________ g
__________ g
__________ sec
__________ sec
__________ sec
__________ sec
Effects of Temperature
Record the effects of each temperature on the rate of the cardiac cycle:
8 C:_________ beats/min
25 C:__________ beats/min
35 C:_________ beats/min
Effects of Chemicals
Record the effects of each chemical on the rate and contractile force of each cardiac cycle.
Drug
Calculated
Calculated
Chronotropic and/or
Heart Rate (BPM)
Force of Contraction (g)
Inotropic? (+ or -)
Epinephrine
Acetylcholine
Atropine
During which part of the cardiac cycle can an extra systole be obtained?
Heart Block
Compare and contrast the myograms attained for partial and complete heart block.