Maryland State Department of Education
Academy of Health Professions
Course 1: Foundations of Medicine and Health Science
Unit 2: Medical Assessment
Section 2: Circulatory System
ANSWER KEY AND RUBRICS
Contents
2.2 Circulatory System
 2.2.1 Physics of Blood Flow
 2.2.2 Blood Pressure and Heart rate
 Part I: The Measurement of Heart Rate
 Part II: The Effect of Exercise on Heart Rate
 Part III: The measurement of Blood Pressure
 Part IV: The Effect of Exercise on Blood Pressure
 Part V: Factors Affecting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
 First Aid Training – to be arranged by instructor
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Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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Name:______________________
2.2.2 WORKSHEET 10: THE MEASUREMENT OF HEART RATE
Table 1. Heart Rates
Names
Pulse Point # 1
_______________
Pulse Point # 2
_______________
Average
1. Calculate the average Heart Rate of the students in your group.
2. What is the normal range of resting heart rate?
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Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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Name:______________________________
2.2.2 WORKSHEET 11: THE EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON HEART RATE
Resting Heart Rate:______________________
Table 2. The Effect of Exercise on Heart Rate
Time (minutes)
Heart Rate (beats/minute)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
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Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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1. Using the data in Table 2, produce a line graph to show the decrease in heart rate
following exercise.
Title______________________________________________
Heart Rate
(beats/min)
Time After Exercise (minutes)
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Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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2. How did the heart rate change following physical activity? Explain why this
change occurs.
Heart rate should increase with physical activity because the muscles are working
harder, and have an increased need for oxygen and glucose. Also they
accumulate more waste products such as carbon dioxide. Blood is the vehicle by
which oxygen and glucose are delivered to the muscles, and which removes waste
products. The heart must pump faster to move the blood around the body more
quickly to keep up with the demands of the muscles.
3. What was the recovery time? (How long did it take for the heart rate to return to
the resting heart rate?)
Recovery time = _____________________ minutes
4. Would you expect the recovery time to be the same for everyone? Explain your
answer.
No, The recovery time would be shorter for individuals with higher levels of
fitness.
5. How is the measurement of heart rate used during personal fitness training?
Your training heart rate zone is a critical element in exercise. Taking your pulse
and figuring your heart rate during a workout is one of the primary indicators in
ascertaining the intensity level at which you and your heart is working.
6. What guideline is used to determine target heart rates for exercise?
A person's correct heart rate (for optimum cardiovascular benefits) is a
percentage of their maximum heart rate. For moderate-intensity physical activity,
a person's target heart rate should be 50-70 percent of their maximum heart rate.
For vigorous-intensity physical activity, the figure is 70-85 percent.
7. Using the internet or other sources, research exercise and sports-related healthcare
professions which might use measurement of heart rate to monitor patients.
Describe the role of these professions in healthcare.
Physical Therapist- provides services to individuals to develop, maintain and
restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout life.
Personal Trainer- is a fitness professional who develops and implements an
individualized approach to physical fitness.
Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Therapist- helps patients diagnosed with
CAD or COPD to exercise and help elevate their activity level in a setting where
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Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and EKG can be monitored as they
exercise.
©
Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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Name:______________________
2.2.2 WORKSHEET 12: THE MEASUREMENT OF BLOOD PRESSURE
Table 1. Resting Blood Pressure Measurements
Blood Pressure
Names
Systolic Pressure
Diastolic Pressure
1. How are blood pressure readings usually written?
Systolic Pressure / Diastolic Pressure
2. What are the normal ranges for blood pressure?
Systolic Pressure (90 – 140 mmHg)
Diastolic Pressure (60 – 90 mmHg)
3. After the accident Rebecca was diagnosed with acute stress disorder. Do you believe
there is a connection between stress and changes in blood pressure? Explain.
Stress can make blood pressure go up temporarily, and it has been thought to contribute
to high blood pressure. But the long-term effects of stress are as yet unclear.
4. Would you get a different blood pressure reading depending on which arm you use? Try
it!
No, unless you have a blockage or an abnormality. If you have a blockage in the arteries
supplying to one arm, the blood pressure reading that is obtained from that arm will be
lower. In older people, blockages are usually due to atherosclerosis. In younger people,
they are often due to muscles or other structures compressing the artery from the outside,
or an abnormality of the blood vessels themselves. Physicians should measure blood
pressure in both arms at least once in a patient's life, to screen for this kind of problem.
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Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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Name:______________________
2.2.2 WORKSHEET 13: THE EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON BLOOD PRESSURE
Table 4. The Effect of Exercise on Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure
Names
Resting
Systolic
Diastolic
After Exercise
Systolic
Diastolic
1. Now switch roles and repeat this exercise. Record the data as before in Table 4.
2. Make a double Bar Graph of your results representing the systolic and diastolic blood
pressure before and after jogging for 2 minutes for each student.
Title________________________________________________
Blood Pressure
(mm Hg)
Student
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Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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Questions
1. How did physical exercise affect both systolic and diastolic blood pressure? Explain why
this change occurs.
Typically during exercise heart rate will increase. This is in order to increase blood flow
to the working muscles to allow for increased respiration - in order for the muscles to
work efficiently. Therefore the more strenuous the exercise, the more your heart rate will
increase.
Blood pressure will also increase during exercise and again depends on intensity levels.
During exercise such as running/cycling/swimming systolic pressure will increase
progressively whereas diastolic pressure will increase only slightly. During weight lifting
exercises, both systolic and diastolic pressures will rise.
2. What type of physiological disorders might you expect to cause a change in blood
pressure?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, Shock, Panic, Hormonal, etc…
3. What problems would changes in blood pressure cause for normal functioning of the
circulatory system?
Blood pressure is the pressure that is exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries as
it travels through the body. When the volume of blood pumped through the arteries or the
pressure that the blood puts against the walls of the arteries increases, the delicate
tissues in the artery walls wear thin and may tear. Fat and cholestrol deposits further
obstruct blood flow, narrowing the arteries, and thereby accelerating damage by raising
blood pressure even more. Elevated blood pressure speeds up the progress of
atherosclerosis, and wears out the coronary arteries faster than normal. High blood
pressure may cause heart failure, kidney failure, and strokes.
4. How do blood pressure medications counteract elevated blood pressure?
There are many different blood pressure medications and they do a variety of things to
lower blood pressure, including; inhibiting the formation of hormones that cause blood
vessels to narrow or constrict, reducing pressure on arterial walls, widening blood
vessels which leads to greater oxygen delivery to the heart, reducing nerve impulses, and
relaxing muscles to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.
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Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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Name:______________________________
2.2.2 LAB REPORT: FACTORS AFFECTING BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART RATE
Hypothesis/Objective:
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Procedure:
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Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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Results:
Present your results as a table below, and as a graph.
Title________________________________________________
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Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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Discussion:
Explain your interpretation of your data here.
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Conclusions:
In one or two sentences summarize your findings.
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Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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Name:_________________________
2.2.2 FACTORS AFFECTING BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART RATE
GRADING RUBRIC
Criteria
Experimental Design
 Students identified a reasonable factor to be tested.
 Experimental design was sufficient to test the effect of the chosen
factor.
Procedure
 The procedure was written in the correct format as a numbered
step-by-step protocol.
 Sufficient detail was included.
 All details of the procedure were correct.
 The procedure was appropriate for the investigation.
Results
 The results were presented appropriately in a table.
 The table was clear and easy to read.
 One or more graphs were constructed which highlighted the trends
in the data.
 The graph was set up correctly using appropriate scale, and graph
type.
Discussion
 Trends in the data were identified.
 Any correlations between the factor being tested and heart rate and
blood pressure were discussed.
 A good attempt was made to explain why the chosen factor might
have affected heart rate and blood pressure.
 Sources of error were identified.
 Improvements for future investigations were noted.
 Suggestions for future investigations were given.
Conclusion
 1-2 sentence summary
Total
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Grade
10%
25%
30%
30%
5%
100%
Copyright, Stevenson University, 2009; AHP Course 1_Unit 2: Section 2_Teacher Version 2
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