Cardiovascular System Lab
Description
In this virtual lab, students explore the anatomy and function of the cardiovascular system through hands-on identification and simulated clinical assessment. Using a rotatable 3D heart model, students label the four chambers, four valves, and great vessels, then trace the path of blood as it moves from the body through the right heart, to the lungs, through the left heart, and back out to the body. Students then move from structure to function by practicing two core clinical skills: locating and timing a pulse at the radial and carotid sites, and taking a blood pressure reading with a simulated manual sphygmomanometer, listening for the appearance and disappearance of Korotkoff sounds to identify systolic and diastolic pressure. The lab closes with a 12-question assessment covering heart anatomy, blood flow, and pulse/blood pressure interpretation.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lab, students will be able to identify and locate the four chambers, four valves, and major great vessels of the heart; trace the correct pathway of blood flow through the heart and out to the pulmonary and systemic circulations; describe the rationale and correct technique for palpating a pulse at the radial and carotid sites; explain how a manual sphygmomanometer is used to measure blood pressure, including what systolic and diastolic pressure represent and what Korotkoff sounds indicate; and interpret a given pulse rate or blood pressure reading as normal or abnormal.