Blood Pressure Lab Analysis

Systole is the blood leaving the heart and entering the arteries. The arteries then carry blood to the lungs or other organs requiring oxygen. The opposite of systole is diastole which carries blood from the oxygen-requiring organs to the heart. We measure heart rate with a stethoscope or an index finger, and a clock. We use the finger or the stethoscope to find the heart rate and we count the number of beats per minute. When measuring heart rate, do not use your thumb. The reason behind not using your thumb is that it has an awkward beat of its own. We measure blood pressure with a cuff, rubber tubing, pressure gauge, and a pump as well as a stethoscope. We do this by pumping air into the cuff through the rubber tubing. The pressure gauge is to measure what the pressure inside of the cuff is. To use the cuff, place it around someones upper bicep. After doing this, add air to the cuff, inflating it to approximately 150. Then, slowly release the air from the tube by gently twisting the seal on the pump. Listen for when the blood starts to flow and when it does, record the pressure, it will be your numerator. Then as you continue to let air out, listen for when you can't hear the heart beat anymore, and the pressure when that occurs will be your denominator.