Research Assignment: Cardiovascular Medicine

 

Part I – to be completed by all students individually in the Hospital Journal notebook.

  1. Describe the functions of the circulatory system.
  2. Using the enclosed (Appendix A) diagram of the heart, label the following structures: superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, right ventricle, left ventricle, right atrium, left atrium, semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonary valves), tricuspid valve, bicuspid (mitral) valve, pulmonary artery, aorta, pulmonary vein.
  3. On the same diagram, color the oxygenated parts of the heart red and the deoxygenated parts deep red or purple.
  4. Using arrows, show the path of blood through the heart. View it here!
  5. Explain what a pulse is.
  6. Describe the structure of veins, arteries and capillaries.
  7. Explain what is meant by blood pressure.
  8. Explain the function of echocardiograms and electrocardiograms.
  9. Listen to human heartbeats and record the bpm of each heart.
  10. What is a heart murmur? Listen
  11. Learn about some disorders of the heart. Describe two of them.

Part II – to be completed by students individually.

In your Hospital Journal, record the highlights of your trip to the Medical Center. In addition, please include the following:

·        Five things you learned about cardiovascular medicine.

·        Two questions you would like to ask.

·        Define the role of a minimum of three professions involved in the maintenance of a cardiac unit at Sound Shore Medical Center.

·        Your personal reaction to the visit.

Part III – to be completed by all students individually.

Read the enclosed article and analyze it using the format of Newsworthy Science. (This will go in your Newsworthy book)

Parts IV through VIII.  You must pick one selection from the "menu." 

Part IV - Writing Section.

  1. Pretend that you are a molecule of oxygen hitching a ride on a red blood cell. Write a short story about your journey through the circulatory system. (Include where you entered and exited.)
  2. You have just become the proud parent of a baby boy/girl. The doctor has just informed you that your baby was born with a small hole in his/her septum. Write a letter a friend announcing the birth and explain the medical problem of the baby. Make sure to explain the treatment and symptoms of this defect. Why are they called "blue babies?"
  3. You have just become the proud parent of a baby boy/girl. The doctor has just informed you that your baby was born with a heart murmur. Write a letter to a friend announcing the birth and explain the medical problem of the baby.
  4. Write a biologue about one of the following:

·        The effects of stress on blood pressure.

·        Three chambered hearts (frog) versus four chambered hearts (birds and mammals).

·        10 facts you learned about the cardiovascular system after your visit to Sound Shore Medical Center.

  1. Research and write a report in the form of a feature article for a newspaper on one of the following topics:

·        pacemakers

·        EKG

·        laser angioplasty

·        HDLs and LDLs

·        heart bypass surgery

  1. The following letter was received by Dear Abby.

Dear Abby,

My biology teacher recently told the class that she has a pacemaker. We were all surprised when she said this because she isn’t that old. She claims that we all have a pacemaker. Please explain.

                                                          Pacing in New Rochelle

Pretend that you are Dear Abby. Consult with Dr.__________ or any other professional from your visit to Sound Shore Medical Center in writing a letter of reply to this letter. Also, write another letter to Dear Abby dealing with another aspect of the circulatory system and include her response.

  1. Make a concept map using the following words: heart, blood, red blood cells, plasma, hemoglobin, veins, arteries, oxygen, capillaries, lymphatic system, lymph, spleen, lymph nodes
8. Dr. Myra Logan was one of the first surgeons to operate on the heart (in fact, the first woman to do so) and in 1951 she became the first African American woman to be elected to the American College of Surgeons, a medical honor society. Pretend that you are a famous talk show host (you may choose which one) and she is your guest. Write the script for your show including bibliographic information and her achievements.
  1. You have been commissioned to design both sides of a 5" X 8" postcard. On one side, write a letter to a friend of yours telling them at least 7 things you know about pulse rate. On the other side, create a landscape, diagram, cartoon or some other picture related to pulse rate.
  1. Using your textbook or other resource materials, create a word list of 20 words and their meanings on the circulatory system and then create a word search using all 20 words.
  2. Create a crossword puzzle using at least 20 clues referring to the circulatory system. (The use of computer programs is encouraged here.)  
  3.  Now that you understand the cardiovascular system, design an illustrated children's book to teach younger children any topic studied in this system.  (parts of the circulatory system, diseases, etc.)  Remember that young children do judge a book by its cover - title and illustrations count. (You might want to check out the Miss Frizzle site for examples of children's science books.)
  4. Profiles in Hospital Careers: Select one of the medical careers involved in cardiac medicine that you observed during your trip to Sound Shore.  Using the format described in "What Makes a Hospital Tick: Career Profiles at Sound Shore Medical Center, design a page to be added to our publication.

Part V - Mathematical Connection - You must select two options from here. Show work and use scientific notation.

14. A laboratory technician carried out a differential white-blood-count on a patient. Of the 200 white blood cells counted, 122 were neutrophils, 61 were lymphocytes, 5 were eosinophils, 1 was a basophil, and 11 were monocytes. Calculate the percentage of white blood cells of each type. Briefly describe these different cells.

15. An adult heart pumps about 5 liters of blood through the circulatory system every minute. How many liters of blood does a heart pump in a day? In an 80-year lifespan?

16. New red blood cells are continuously being produced in the marrow. Approximately 2,400,000 are produced in one second! How many are produced in a class period? A day? A year? Show work and use scientific notation. What is bone marrow?

17. What are the benefits of cardiovascular exercise? Most experts recommend individuals exercise at their target heart rate a minimum of 30 minutes three times a week. To determine your target heart rate (beats per minutes), subtract your age from 220 and multiply by 0.7. Show work. Are you exercising enough? Explain. What is my target heart rate? Guess my age! (Hint: I’m more than a half century old!)

Part VI - Global Connection 

18. The frequency of the major ABO blood groups varies throughout the world Using a map of the world, indicate the frequency of the major blood groups in different geographic areas. How can you explain the variations?

19. William Harvey was the court physician to King James I and Charles I. In 1628 he published "De Motu Cordis" or "On the Motion of the Heart" in which he described the functions of the heart and the circulation of blood. Describe his findings. Why is this considered one of the greatest medical achievement of all times?

20. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects certain populations more than others. (Heart attacks are rarer in East Asian countries than in the United States and Europe.) Research the populations that are at higher risk for some of these diseases. How can you explain the differences?

21. In 1917, the revolutionary Bolsheviks rounded up the last Czar of Russia, Nicholas II, and his family. The revolutionists shot the whole family and then hid the bodies to erase traces of their identities. Some people believed that the Czar’s daughter Anastasia survived, but scientist were certain that her brother, Alexis, did not because he was a hemophiliac. Describe this disease and identify Factor VIII. The descendants of Queen Victoria present an interesting example of inheritance of this disease. (Alexis is her great grandson.) Obtain a family tree of this family and trace the present British royal family, Spanish royal house and Russian royal house to Queen Victoria.

22. In 1940, African American Charles Drew earned a Doctor of Science Degree for his dissertation "Banked Blood." Research his contribution to the study of circulation and discuss how his research saved many lives during World War II.

23. Read about cardiac milestones. Select one of these pioneers and write him/her a letter telling him/her about the advances in cardiac medicine since he/she lived.

Part VII - Music and Poetry Just For Fun

24. Write a biosong or rap about anything related to the circulatory system.

25. Write a rhyme or limerick about the circulatory system.

Part VIII - Art Components

26. Make a heart model using paper cups, straws, labels and tape. Small cups can represent atria and large cups can represent ventricles. Straws can be used for blood vessels. Use the labels to identify the blood vessels and indicate whether the blood is oxygenated or deoxygenated.

27. Make a flip book showing the path of a drop of blood through the heart. (minimum of 20 frames required.)

28. Make a flip book showing the path of a drop of blood to the lungs. (pulmonary circulation) Minimum of 20 frames required.

29. Create an advertisement selling or requesting an artificial replacement part for any part of the circulatory system.

30. Describe the "lub-dub" sounds produced by the heart. Draw two labeled diagrams to show the heart during the "lub" sound and the "dub" sound.

31. Create a cartoon of how the cells and molecules of the immune system interact to protect against foreign material.  

32. Draw a poster or cartoon to encourage people not to be "coach potatoes".

33. Design a t-shirt! Using an old shirt or Dad’s recycled undershirt, use fabric paints to design a "Have a Heart" shirt. Include an anatomically correct diagram of the heart and the major blood vessels leading to and away from it.

Part IX – Diseases or Malfunctions of the Circulatory System – to be completed by students individually. You must select either option 34 or 35.

34. Imagine that you are a physician writing up a case history of a disease. Use the format enclosed and write up one "patient" with a disorder of the circulatory system. Suggestions include: hypertension, angina pectoris, stroke, aneurism, coronary thrombosis, leukemia, anemia, hemophilia.

35. Obtain a normal and abnormal EKG . What does an EKG measure? Explain the P, QRS, and T waves. Explain the abnormality present.  

Created by: Joyce Kent
Albert Leonard Middle School
New Rochelle  
                                                   Point Value        Your Grade

Part I

Due Feb. 10

30 points

  

Part II

Due Feb. 17

20 points

  

Parts (IV-VII) + IX

Due ?

50 points

  
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