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.