LAB BI309

LAB: 4 Cardiac Physiology- II

Emalus students will do this lab online. Separate access will be given to Vanuatu students
for activities and submission of lab report for marking.

RECORDING OF ECG, HEART RATE AND BLOOD PRESSURE

In today’s lab, we will be looking at the cardiovascular system of a human (ourselves) to
record electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP). I hope that by
the end of this lab you will have greater knowledge on the workings of our hearts (both
electrical & mechanical activities) and blood vessels.

Part A: Recording of Electrocardiogram

 Physiological background: Cardiac muscles undergo electrical changes resulting in
its contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole). During this process, different
regions on the surface of the heart develop potential difference. Such a separation of
change or potential difference is called as a dipole. The electrical potential of dipole
is conducted through an electrolyte solution, such as the interstitial fluid &
extracellular fluid and finally a part of it reaches the skin surface. This current
graphically recorded and the graph is called electrocardiogram (ECG). Any
abnormality in the heart will be reflected in this electrical current. Electrocardiograph
is an instrument to amplify and record overall cardiac action potential reaching to the
surface of the skin. The current is
 Requirement:
 PowerLab instrument, computer with chart-8 and above software and bioamplifier
 ECG leads, finger pulse lead and ECG jelly
 Stethoscope
 Volunteer (human subject)

 Procedure:
Preparation and connections:
Three Lead arrangements for recording ECG (Einthoven’s triangle):
 Leads are electrical current conducting wires with particular arrangements of two
recording electrodes
 Any electrolyte jelly is rubbed over the skin before placing these electrodes.
Lead-1 : Right arm connected to negative terminal of the instrument and left arm to
the positive terminal.
Lead-II : Right arm to negative terminal and left leg to positive terminal
Lead-III : Left arm to negative terminal and left leg to positive terminal
(we will use inbuilt leads for connecting right arm, left arm & left leg. Familiarize it
before applying on to skin)

Familiarise with computer-assisted software and bio-leads:

Operation and setting of the of powerLab computer software:
1) Switch on the powerLab 8channels instrument & the computer
2) Double click on Chart8 (updated version) for windows on the desktop
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3) Eight channels are seen on the screen. Discard 3,4,5,6,7 & 8 channels from
channel setup displaying only two channels. You can label this channel. If you
there is a window of gallery experiments pops up, close it.
4) On the top of channel-1, click the speed scrollbar and select 100/s, click channel-
1 scrollbar and go to Bio amplifier setting.

a. Select range 2 mv
b. Low pass, 100 Hz could be adjusted as per
c. High pass 03 Hz the requirements
d. Do no select EEG mode,
50 Hz notch, main filter & invert
e. Click OK

5) Click channel-2 for pulse recording- set as above or you can derive the value from
ECG waves (each R peak represents one beat).

Now the computer software is ready for recording the observations.

 Connection and recording : Either herman or myself will record electrocardiograms

a) Make a group of five students to do this recording.
b) One student from your group will be the subject.
c) We will hook him/her up to the bioamplifier & powerLab using the three
standard ECG limb leads (left arm, right arm, left leg as described above).
d) Each student should record and obtain an normal ECG record for at least one
minuet. Then continue recording at least two minutes duration with the subject
 Doing mild exercise (such as squat or on spot running or dancing etc).
Exercise:
1. Like previous lab transfer all observation in word file for your lab report
2. From zoom view of one peak, calculate duration of P wave, QRS wave and T
wave, PR segment and ST segment. label the P wave, the QRS spike and the T
wave on the printout tracing from the selected portion of record. Write down the
significance of each wave.
3. Select 20 to 30 seconds recorded ECG waves of the subject at rest as well as
doing mild exercise and transfer in your word file. From these recordings,
calculate heart rate (bpm) and cardiac cycle (s) duration (both at rest as well as
doing mild exercise).

PART B: Recording of Heart Rate:

In this activity, the difference in the rate of heart beat due to changes in the (i)
body position and (ii) exercise will be recorded.

 Procedure: Do the experiment in groups of 4-5 students. Note your group members
name and their role. This is just an example. You can do any exercise to record
your observation.
(a) Record the heart rate at the radial artery (at wrist) minute by minute for 5
minutes with a subject in supine position.

Dr. Ketan Christi

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(b) Record the heart rate of the same subject while in standing position at 30
seconds intervals for 5 minutes.
(c) Let the subject perform 20 knee bends within 20 seconds and record the
heart beat at 30 second intervals for 5 minutes. (a) during exercise b) after
exercise (use digital BP meter).
(d) Calculate the mean heart rate for the resting periods during (a) supine and
(b) standing position and the records (a) during and (b) after exercise.

Exercise:
1. Write observation on HR in tabular form.
2. Explain the significance of recording heart rate.
3. Explain the negative feedback mechanism of heart rate regulation after doing
3 minutes of exercise. Use a concept map just like temperature or blood
glucose regulation.

PART C: Recording of blood pressure (BP).

Do the experiment in groups of 4-5 students. Note your group members name and their
role.

The term blood pressure refers to the pressure exerted by the blood against the vessel
walls. This gives information about the pumping efficiency of heart and condition of the
systemic vessels. In general, systolic pressure is attributed to the force of contraction of
heart and diastolic pressure to the relaxation of heart.

 Procedures: Blood pressure is measured by (1) Direct and (2) Indirect methods. In
this exercise we will follow indirect method, in which internal blood pressure is
measured externally.

Indirect method
Principle: External pressure is applied on the superficial artery. Due to external
pressure, the artery lumen is blocked completely with no blood flow. When the
pressure is gradually released creating a narrow opening in blocked artery, blood starts
flowing with pulse and sound. No sound is heard when artery is completely opened
with laminar blood flow, only pulse is felt. The pressure is determined by listening to
the arterial sounds using a stethoscope, below the point where pressure is applied. This
is called the auscultatory method of BP measurement and another indirect method is
the palpatory method, where in the pulse is felt by palpation as blood starts flowing
through the blocked artery.

Use of sphygmomanometer for palpatory and auscultatory and methods BP recording

1. The sphygmomanometer instrument is an inflatable cuff with a pressure gauge
(meter) attached. The idea behind its use is to inflate the cuff to a pressure, which
exceeds that of the major arteries of the arm.
2. This pretty much crushes the vessel and stops any blood flow.

Dr. Ketan Christi

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3. For this reason try not to leave the sphygmomanometer cuff inflated for much more
than one minute if you do you may cause some tissue damage. So use it carefully.

Steps to follow:
I) The Palpatory method: (Only Systolic pressure is recorded)
a) Wind the cuff of sphygmomanometer around the subject’s left upper arm and fix
in position approximately five cm above the elbow.
b) The subject should sit comfortably with their arms resting on a bench at about the
level of the heart.
c) Find the radial pulse and mark its location with which the bag is inflated, and the
release valve for controlling.
d) Inflate the cuff of the sphygmomanometer to around 180 mmHg pressure and then
relocate the radial artery (at this point there should be no pulse) and release
pressure in the cuff.
e) Note the bulb with which the pulse returns.
f) Repeat this three times, record the results and then determine the mean and
standard deviation.

II) The Auscultatory Method: (Both systolic and diastolic pressure are recorded)
a) On your left arm feel for the pulsation of the brachial artery on the inferior (little
finger) side of the elbow.
b) Place the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the artery; note that normally no
sound is heard. Why?
c) Inflate the cuff rapidly to about 160 mmHg. Do not go beyond this point.
d) With the blood flow stopped completely the pressure is then slowly released to
allow blood to start flowing again.
e) The blood flow through the partially compressed artery becomes turbulent and
bangs on the wall of the artery.
f) This makes a thumping coinciding with each heart beat.
g) Note the pressure on the manometer when you hear sound, this is the systolic
blood pressure.
h) Continue to deflate slowly by reducing cuff pressure.
i) The sounds change becoming dull, muffled, and finally ceasing.
j) Note the reading when the sounds suddenly become very soft, (just before no
sound) this is the diastolic blood pressure.

Observation:

1. Normal BP recording:
(a) Record three systolic and three diastolic pressure observations. There should be a
gap of at least two minutes between each measurement.

Dr. Ketan Christi

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Calculate the mean arterial pressure (formula is given below) for each measurement (also
find the mean and standard deviation of MAP).

Where

2. Effect of arm position on blood pressure:

(a) Measure the blood pressure in the sitting position with the arm is raised passively
above the head.
(b) Lie down on the bench and measure the blood pressure when the arm is lowered
than the bench.
(c) Compare the blood pressure values to the values obtained previously.

III) Effect of exercise of the cardiovascular system:

(a) This is to be carried out on one subject from a group of four or five.
(b) Determine the resting levels (before exercise) of systolic pressure, diastolic
pressure, and heart rate (recorded on BP meter) and respiration rate (measured
manually).
(c) The subject should be sitting for these measurements.
(d) The subject then carries out a graduated series of exercise by stepping on and off
a step box a given number of times in three minutes:
(i) Once every two seconds (ii) Twice every three seconds (iii) As fast as
possible (count the number of steps)
NB: The knees must be straightened with each step.
(e) Measure the heart rate, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, MAP and respiration
rate immediately after exercise against the number of steps taken. (Use digital BP
meter or keep the tied cuff all the time throughout this exercise. Inflate the cuff
only for recoding the observations)

Exercise :
1. Record all values in table form.
2. Explain the role of autonomic nervous system in the regulation of blood
pressure during exercise and during sleep.

Things to think about writing this lab report:

 Lab report of this will be assessed so submit your report next week (wk7).
 Follow report writing guidelines and marking rubrics posted on Moodle.
 Like previous labs, before you leave the lab, write a paragraph (about 100-150 words)
on ‘My Contribution’ to describe exactly what you did yourself during this lab
activities. Indicate your group members name and their role. Get it signed by lab
supervisor and attach with your report.

Dr. Ketan Christi

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 Label ECG waveform, tabulate your results and answer all questions asked in the
exercise of part- A, B and C to complete the discussion of your results.
 Incorporate any two research literatures from year 2015 onwards related to your
observations in the discussion section of your report. For this you may use web links
indicated in the marking criteria or Biological abstracts/Physiological,
Pharmacological journal services.
 Lastly in conclusion, write (3-5 sentences) on the learning experience from this lab.

Follow the lab report writing guidelines and marking rubrics posted on Moodle

Dr. Ketan Christi