Station Lab Activity 13a – The Cardiovascular System

• Station lab activity that has students investigate the organs, histology, diseases, and characteristics of the cardiovascular system. Students have the opportunity to use a stethoscope to listen to specific valves of the heart and locate the pulse at several pulse points. Students practice taking blood pressure measurements using a manual sphygmomanometer. Students measure and determine whether the hematocrit of their patients is within the normal range.

Activity 13b – Complete Blood Cell Count

• Students learn about the contents of blood, and what can be diagnosed through a complete blood cell count. A simulated complete blood cell count for four patients to determine whether each patient’s RBC, WBC, and platelet levels are high, low, or normal is done. Students will follow-up by looking at the patient’s test results to formulate a diagnosis.

Activity 13c – ECG Activity

• Students learn how to interpret electrocardiograms. Part A has students go through an internet activity that teaches ECG reading and shows how to interpret electrocardiograms. Part B allows students to put the internet lesson to practice by interpreting electrocardiograms.

Lab 13d – Heart Surgery & PPE

• Students learn about congenital heart defects, heart surgery, and heart anatomy. In Part A they assemble a surgical team to treat a patient (sheep heart) with an atrial-septal defect and a ventricular septal defect. Students learn how a surgical team would prepare and suit up in personal protective equipment (PPE) including gowns, hair net, face mask, and sterile gloves. In Part B students use the sheep heart to identify major internal heart structures.

Items included in this lab are listed below.

Stethoscopes, Sphygmomanometers, Rulers, Isolation Gowns, Surgical Scrub Brushes, Dissecting Pins, Student packet.