Nutrient Absorption Station Lab
Station 1: Flow of Blood
In front of you there is an iPad with that has an animation of the heart pumping blood. Click the numbers
in order, listen and watch the animation, and answer the questions.
1. Oxygen-rich blood enters what part of the heart? Oxygen-poor blood enters what part of the
heart?
2. Describe the purpose of the contraction of the left and right ventricle?
3. Oxygen-rich blood is transported where? And for what purpose?
4. Oxygen-poor blood is transported where? And for what purpose?
5. Explain the significance and differences of the 2 paths of circulation.
6. Describe the differences between a 4 chambered heart and a 3chambered heart.
Station 2: Digestion of a Ham Sandwich
Directions: For lunch yesterday, you ate a ham sandwich. Your sandwich was made of two pieces of bread, one
piece of ham, one piece of cheese, and the sandwich also had mayonnaise on it as well. By now it has left your
body. What happened to that sandwich? Answer the following questions using the chart below.
Enzyme
Salivary amylase
Pepsin
Maltase, lactase, sucrose
Peptidase
Trypsin
Amylase
Lipase
Digestive Organ
mouth
Stomach
Small intestine
Small intestine
Small intestine, pancreas
Small intestine, pancreas
Small intestine, pancreas
Function
Breaks Down starches into simple sugars
Breaks down proteins
Breaks down sugars into simpler molecules
Breaks down proteins into amino acids
Continues breakdown of proteins
Continues breakdown of starches
Aids in breaking down fats
There are four components to your sandwich: bread, ham, cheese and mayonnaise. What are the macromolecules
that are found in each component (lipid, carbohydrate, or protein)?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Bread
Ham
Cheese
Mayonnaise
After digestion has occurred, each life substance is broken down into a smaller substance, what are these smaller
substances called (Hint: Monomers of the macromolecules)? What enzymes breaks the macromolecules down?
Where is this enzyme located?
Macromolecule
Smaller substance
Enzyme
Location of Enzyme
5.
6.
7.
Protein
8.
9.
10.
Carbohydrate
11.
12.
13.
Lipid
Write down the entire digestion process for this ham sandwich from start to finish. Make sure to explain what is
happening in each organ and describe how each organ is involved.
14. Mouth
15. Esophagus
16. Stomach
17. Small Intestine
18. Liver
19. Pancreas
20. Large Intestine
21. Anus
Station 3: Lung Chamber Lab
Directions: Delicately pull the balloon on the cup and watch the “lung” on the inside expand and
contract. Answer the following questions. All questions need to be answered in at least 1
complete sentence. (No short answers)
1. When you expand the diaphragm, by pulling the balloon, what happens to the lung?
2. Explain why your answer to question 1 happens.
3. What component of cellular respiration is filling the “lung”?
4. What type of cellular respiration is this? (Aerobic/Anaerobic)
5. What happens to the lung when you slowly release the balloon back to its original
position?
6. Explain why your answer to question 2 happens.
7. What component of cellular respiration is being released by the lung?
8. Asthma is a condition that causes the alveoli to become inflamed, swell, and secrete more
mucus. What do you think will happen to the volume of air that fills the lungs?
Station 4: Heart Rate Lab
Each time your heart beats, blood is pumped into your arteries.
As the blood surges into the arteries during a heart beat, each
artery stretches and bulges. This brief bulge of the artery is called
a pulse. You will be measuring heart rate by counting the
number of pulses in the artery in the wrist for 15 second intervals .
Introduction: One of the circulatory system’s functions is to deliver
oxygen to the muscles. When your muscles are working they
need more oxygen. If the heart pumps too rapidly, however, it is
a sign that the heart is not working efficiently.
Purpose: To test the efficiency of your heart by checking your heart rate before and after
exercise.
Materials: Clock or stopwatch with a second hand, calculator
Methods:
1. Sit quietly. Find your resting pulse rate. Count the pulse beats you feel in 15 seconds.
Record this number in the chart, “Resting Pulse.” Multiply this number by 4 to get the
pulse rate per minute.
2. Repeat direction #1 three more times and record the pulse beats on the chart.
3. Run in place for 1 minute. Sit down and count your pulse for 15 seconds and quickly
record on the chart “Pulse Rate After Exercise.” Count your pulse every 15 seconds for
8 counts and record on the chart.
4. Graph the data from both charts to show how your heart rate changes over time.
Plot the four resting pulse rates per minute in one color and the eight pulse rates
after exercising in a different color. Include a title, and x and y labels.
Analysis – On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions in complete
sentences
1. How does the graph of pulse rates after exercising differ from the resting pulse
rate graph?
2. Explain why your pulse increase after running in place for one minute?
3. How long did it take for your pulse to return to “normal” after the exercise?
Resting Pulse
Pulse Rate After Exercise
Pulse in 15
seconds
1
2
3
Pulse per minute
Pulse in 15 seconds
Pulse per minute
Pulse in 15 seconds
Pulse per minute
Station 5: Journey of the Respiratory
Take the following words and place them in the correct order starting with a molecule of oxygen
entering the nose and ending with a molecule of carbon dioxide leaving the nose.
trachea
nasal cavity
bronchioles
bronchi alveoli
capillary
trachea
nasal cavity
bronchioles
bronchi alveoli
capillary
1.
NOSE
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. CELLS of the BODY
9.
13.
10.
14.
11.
15.
12.
NOSE
Station 6: Nutrient Absorption Crossword Puzzle
Directions: Fill out the crossword puzzle on your answer sheet:
Across
2. Stores bile.
4. Respiratory system of insects.
5. The right atrium and ventricle transport this type of blood
6. The left atrium and ventricle transport this type of blood.
7. The circuit that takes the blood to and from all parts of your body (not the lungs).
8. Type of digestive system with only one opening.
11. Type of digestive system with 2 openings.
12. Pepsin is an enzyme that breaks down __________________.
14. Breaks down starches in the mouth and the small intestine.
15. The liquid portion of your blood that all cells and nutrients are suspended in.
16. Secretes bile which helps break down fat.
Down
1. The circuit that takes the blood to and from the lungs.
3. Respiratory system of spiders.
9. Involuntary movement consisting of smooth muscle contractions in the digestive system.
10. Secretes insulin and other enzymes.
13. Site of Gas Exchange.