Name:______________

Cardiac Output Lab

Background
Cardiac output is a fancy way of describing the amount of blood the heart can pump
in a minute. Since the very definition includes the concepts of volume and time, you
can probably figure out how it could be measured and how it can change, over long
periods and short periods of time.
Cardiac Output = Heart Rate X Stroke Volume
Where heart rate is the number of beats per minute and stroke volume is the
amount of blood the heart can squeeze from one ventricle in one beat. Both factors
(HR & SV) can change rapidly, but here are some numbers for a typical adult at rest:
Cardiac output = 72 bpm X 0.07 Liters/beat = 5 Liters/Min
Notice that 5 liters is also approximately the total amount of blood in an average
adult, so this means that the blood that leaves the heart takes about 1 minute to
travel around the body and return to the heart.

Purpose
The goal of this lab is to analyze the factors that affect cardiac output.
Your group must select one factor to study. Factors can include but are not
limited to the following:

Exercise
Deep Breathing/Meditation
Stress/Fear/Emotions
Gender
Height
Reported Athleticism

Question

Hypothesis

Procedure
Design an experiment or survey that test the effect of your chosen factor on cardiac
output.
Your experiment or survey should include:
A hypothesis

Name:______________

A
A
A
A

control (if possible)

step-by-step procedure
list of safety precautions (If necessary)
table to record your observations

To help you, a generic procedure for taking pulses and calculating cardiac output is
provided:
1. For this activity, we need to get the pulse quickly. Therefore, I recommend
only counting the pulse for 15 seconds and then multiplying by 4 (to get
beats per minute). To take your pulse, place your index and middle finger
near your wrist or neck as shown below.

2. Calculate cardiac output using the equation in the introduction (CO=HR x SV).
Use 0.071 L/min to approximate SV.

Name:______________

Results

Analysis:
1. Create a line or bar graph of your data.
2. How did your chosen factor affect cardiac output?
3. Why do you think your chosen factor influenced (or did not influence) cardiac
output?
4. Describe any problems or difficulties you had carrying out your procedure.
5. How could you improve your experimental design?
Use the following information to answer number 6:
Cardiac Output has direct influence over your Blood Pressure. Blood Pressure is the
pressure exerted on the large systemic arteries near the heart. Blood Pressure is
measured indirectly by auscultation (listening). Two pressures are actually
measured. The first is the pressure in the arteries during the contraction phase of
the heart cycle, it is the systolic pressure. The second pressure is measured
during the resting phase and is called diastolic pressure. The other factor that has
direct influence on blood pressure is peripheral resistance, the amount of friction
encountered by the blood as it flows through the vessels.
Blood Pressure = Cardiac Output x Peripheral Resistance
6. Based on your data, do you think your chosen factor has an effect on blood
pressure? Why or why not?