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Cardiovascular System Lab Report
Cardiovascular System Lab Report
Section 24
TA: Michael Blatchley
Lab Manager: Michael Koo
Jie Bian
Tiffany Chu
Deepan Islam
Sabin Karki
Walter Zhao
Hydraulics Procedure:
One group member was responsible for performing and collecting data for the water tube
experiments, while the other group members simultaneously worked on the circuit portion of the
laboratory. The relationship between the flow rate and the length or diameter of the tube was
analyzed. During the course of the hydraulics experiment, either the length of the tube or the
diameter was controlled in a single trial while filling the graduated cylinder with 20 mL of water.
1. Record the height from the water source to the attachment at the bottom for the tubes. (1.4 m)
2. Connect the 3cm olive tube to the hose after making sure that the hose connected to the water
source will not allow flow.
3. Place the end of the tube in a 20 mL graduated cylinder, and after, turn on the hose, so water
flow begins.
4. Using a stopwatch, measure how long it takes to fill the 20mL graduated cylinder, which
allows for calculation of flow. Time starts when hose is turned on to once water hits the 20mL
graduation. After time has been recorded, empty the graduated cylinder.
5. Repeat steps 2 to 4 for another trial.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 for tubes of other lengths, i.e. 6cm, 9cm, 12cm, 15cm (same color).
7. Repeat steps 2-6 for tubes of different colors (brown, charcoal, green, pink). ( A total of 84
trials were conducted; 3 trials per each of the 28 tubes).
Derivation of Relevant Equations:
Resistance to blood flow is primarily determined by radius of the vessel, viscosity of blood, and
length of the vessel. Vessel diameter is the most important factor computationally.
Vessel resistance (R) is directly proportional to the blood vessel’s length (l) and blood viscosity
(n). Resistance is inversely proportional to the quartic of the radius (r). See the below equation
For the relationship of resistance with flow, resistance and pressure, we get:
This statement is Poiseuille's equation in a form which shows flow to be directly proportional to
the radius to the fourth power and change in pressure, and inversely proportional to length and
viscosity. The equation in direct relationship form is
This equation assumes laminar flow, straight and long blood vessels, and a Newtonian fluid (a
fluid with viscosity proportional to strain). However, because blood flow can be non-laminar
(called turbulent) and blood is not a Newtonian fluid, the model we use is not exactly an accurate
representation of blood dynamics.
Data:
The tank used to fill the graduated cylinder with 20 mL of water was positioned 1.4 m above the
cylinder.
Tube Color and Diameter (mm) Time to Flow Rate Average Flow
Length (cm) fill (mL/s) Rate (mL/s)
20 mL (s)
Pink (6 cm) 0.89 37.69 0.530644733 0.548388142
35.95 0.556328234
35.83 0.55819146
The hydraulic results demonstrate that the radius of a tube carrying a fluid has a much greater
effect on the flow rate than does the length of the tube. This relationship is also seen in the
circulatory system; vessels contract and dilate to modulate blood flow in response to
environmental stresses.
Electric Circuit Procedure
Resistors in series:
Resistors Resistance (Ω) Total Resistance (Ω) Voltage (V)
R1 33k 77680 10.0
R2 33k 77680 10.0
R3 10k 77680 3.0
R4 1k 77680 0.3
R5 680 77680 0.6
Resistors in parallel:
Resistors Resistance (Ω) Total Resistance (Ω) Voltage (V)
R1 33k 380 30.1
R2 33k 380 30.1
R3 10k 380 30.1
R4 1k 380 30.1
R5 680 380 30.1
Discussion of Circuits:
From the data collected, we can see that when connected in series, the voltage across each
individual resistors are the same and the voltage is independent of the resistance, whereas the
voltage varies with respect to resistance when connected in parallel.
In human bodies, suppose if all the organs are connected in series, the blood pressure will change
with respect to the "resistance" of each organ, and the blood flow will be the same at every point.
This is not, however, how human bodies work. Human bodies have organs mostly in parallel so
that the organs will receive different amount of oxygen supplies.
Six Flags Protocol:
Data Collection (heart rate and acceleration of the subject is collected by the SHARD)
1. While the park is closed, the SHARD subject will first go to the Superman ride, as it is
the farthest away from the park entrance. The subject will put on the SHARD device and
ride the Superman, following the procedure below:
a. Wet the polar areas on the strap
b. Clip strap around sternum with clip on front of body
c. Put memory card into the SHARD
d. Attach SHARD to body by tying the straps around the waist
e. Make sure SHARD is vertical to collect accurate data
f. Turn SHARD switch on and observe red light flash with heart beat
2. The subject responsible for recording data will remain on the ground and record the
following data:
a. Time SHARD is turned on
b. Time ride begins
c. Time points where significant drops, loops and turns occur
d. Time ride ends
3. Following each ride:
a. Save data from SHARD
b. Remove memory card, place in adapter, and cut and paste into a new folder on
your computer (rename the file according to the trial number and ride)
4. The SHARD subject will ride the Superman, Joker’s Jinx, and Voodoo Drop rides three
times each, recording and saving all of the above data points each time.
5. Following all data collection, MATLAB will be used to analyze the SHARD data. The
significant loops, drops, and turns recorded earlier will be matched with the
corresponding heart rate and acceleration changes.
Joker's Jinx:
Trial 1:
Trial 2:
Trial 3:(Shared data from Sid's group)
Voodoo Drop:
Trial 1:
Trial 2:
Trial 3:
Six Flags Discussion:
Heart rate was observed to decrease with the Superman drop, while acceleration increased. These
observations make sense based on the knowledge gleaned about the baroreflex and sympathetic
and parasympathetic nervous systems, as the baroreflex works to maintain the body's blood
pressure.
The factors involved in the control of blood flow include radius of the blood vessel, resistance of
the blood vessel to flow, and pressure of the blood. Decreases in tube radius results in a decrease
in flow. If tube length increases, flow increases. Tubes in parallel results in a decrease in flow.
Tubes in series increase flow. Exercise leads to increases in heart rate and blood pressure. During
exercise, blood vessels undergo vasodilation, and if the radius of the blood vessel increases, then
resistance increases. In the rollercoaster, heart rate initially decreases due to acceleration, which
triggers a decrease in blood pressure. Upon sensing this decrease in blood pressure, the
baroreceptors undergo the baroreflex, which increases the heart rate at an attempt to restore
blood pressure. During rest, the baroreflex should be active to ensure homeostasis of blood
pressure. During exercise, the baroreflex should be more active than at rest due to disruptions in
blood pressure caused by vasodilation. On rollercoasters, the baroreflex corrects for the decrease
in heart rate and blood pressure caused by the acceleration by increasing the heart rate to bring
back blood pressure levels to normal.
Conclusion:
Analysis of heart rate data from Six Flags confirmed the hypothesis by demonstrating that
changes in heart rate were ultimately, but not directly resultant of rapid changes in acceleration,
such as those in drops and loops. To clarify, heart rate was not directly related to acceleration,
but sudden accelerations resulted in a decrease in blood pressure. The baroreceptor reflex, in
turn, increases heart rate to increase blood flow and return blood pressure to equilibrium.
In the hydraulics section of the lab, Poiseuille’s law was confirmed experimentally by showing
that blood flow is indeed affected by both the length and radius of tubes representing vasculature.
Diameter however had a proportionally larger effect on the rate of flow than the length did. In
the body, blood vessels mimic this behavior through the dilation and contraction.
In the circuit portion of the lab, fundamental circuit theory was used to show that resistance of a
circuit in parallel is less than the resistance of a circuit in series. This lends support to our model
of the circulatory system as a parallel circuit, as this would require less energy expenditure by
the heart to pump blood to all the organs.
Nomenclature:
Symbol Units Quantity
Voltage V Volts Measured
Current I Amperes Calculated
Resistance Ω Ohms Measured
Pressure P Pascals Calculated
Flow Q m^3/s Calculated
Circulatory R Pascals*m^3/s Calculated
Resistance
Radius r m Measured
Viscosity µ Pa ⋅ s Cited
Length l m Measured
Literature Cited:
2. Clément, Gilles. The Heart in Space Effects of Space Flight on the Cardio-Vascular System.
Contributions:
Tiffany Chu: Electronic Circuit Section, Data Discussion, Conclusions
Deepan Islam: Abstract, Introduction, Graphs, Data Collection at Six Flags, Literature Cited
Sabin Karki: Hydraulics Section, Data Table, Data Discussion, Nomenclature, Abstract,
Literature Cited, Conclusions
Lucy Bian: Electronic Circuit Section, Data Discussion, Conclusions
Walter Zhao: Abstract, Data Collection at Six Flags, Graphs