Monitoring Activity of the Heart (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Biology): Revision Note

Monitoring Activity of the Heart

• Heart activity can be monitored by using an ECG, measuring pulse rate or listening to the sounds of valves closing using a stethoscope

• Heart rate (and pulse rate) is measured in beats per minute (bpm)

Measuring pulse diagram

Pulse can be detected where an artery passes over a bone, such as the radial artery (in the wrist) and the carotid artery (in the neck)

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A stethoscope can be used to listen for heartbeats in order to calculate pulse rate

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Many wearable devices, such as this fitness watch, can record pulse rate

• To investigate the effects of exercise on heart rate, record the pulse rate at rest for a minute

• Immediately after exercise, record the pulse rate every minute until it returns to the resting rate

• This experiment will show that during exercise the heart rate increases and may take several minutes to return to normal