Making Connections Lab

State another question that someone might ask about pulse rate that could be answered by doing an experiment.

-Does weight effect pulse rate? -Does gender effect pulse rate? -Does age effect pulse rate?

How does Fatigue Affect Muscle Performance?

A condition known as muscle fatigue occurs when certain waste products of muscle cell activity build up in cells. Until these waste chemicals are removed, the fatigue will continue

A student in your class suggests that when most people watch exciting sporting events on television, their pulse rates increase. What is a reliable way to find out if this statement is correct?

A reliable way to find out if this statement is correct is to get 100 people. First find their resting pulse rate before watching the exciting sporting event. Then find their pulse rate after watching the exciting sporting event. At the end compare the before and after pulse rates to see if it increased.

Could you do as many in a minute the second time as you could do the first time? No...' Provide a biological explanation for these results.

After the first round of squeezing the muscles in the fingers and forearms oxygen in the blood decreases.

If you wanted to increase your clothespin squeezing rate, would you suggest excising or resting before you did it? Explain why you think your choice is the correct one.

I suggest resting before you squeeze the clothespin because your building up oxygen and nutrients that you will need, if you want to increase your clothespin-squeezing rate.

Some people are able to squeeze the clothespin more times in a minute than others. Suggest a possible explanation for this.

People who play instruments tend to squeeze the clothespin more times than others because they use the fingers a lot when playing.

What does an increased pulse rate indicate about the heart rate and flow of blood in someone's body?

The increased pulse rate indicates that the heart rate and flow of blood in someone's body in going faster.

What specific evidence would you need in order to determine if what the student suggests in question #9 can be supported?

The majority of the people would have a higher pulse rate that they did before.

When muscles are active, cells use nutrients and oxygen at a higher rate and produce waste chemicals and heat more rapidly. Describe how the interaction of two or more body systems helps to maintain homeostasis during periods of high muscle activity. (Be sure to identify the two systems you refer to in your answer.)

The respiratory system takes in oxygen which is transported to the cells by the circulatory system. As the cells use oxygen at a higher rate an increase heart rate will get oxygen to the cells more quickly. As muscle activity increases waste will be produced which are removed by the excretory system.

Pulse rate increases for most people after exercise. Explain why this connection between pulse rate and activity makes sense.

This connection makes sense because as you complete an exercise, your heart beat increases and you begin to take in more oxygen to get rid of the lactic acid build up.

What is Your Pulse Rate?

Your pulse rate is a result of the expansion of blood vessels that occurs each time your heart beats to send a surge of blood through your body. You can feel certain blood vessels "pulse" as this happens.