How Heart Rate Maintains Homeostasis

Abstract: This experiment was focused on discovering how heart rate helps maintain
homeostasis in the body. What was tested is what would happen to heart rate while
running and what would happen afterwards. The results of the experiment were that
heart rate went up during were running because the muscles needed more oxygen, and it
slowed down again once the body was no longer in motion. This shows how the body
works when faced with physical stress.

Introduction: The research was focused on how the heart helps the body maintain
homeostasis. Homeostasis is the state the body needs to be in order to stay in a stable
condition. The heart is an organ that is part of the circulatory system. It pumps blood and
oxygen around the body. The medulla part of the brain uses the nervous system to decide
on if heart rate needs to be increased or decreased (Cespedes, January 30, 2018). During
exercise the muscles convert glucose into energy using aerobic cellular respiration, which
requires oxygen (Cespedes, January 30, 2018). Because the muscles need more oxygen,
the adrenal glands release more Epinephrine to stimulate the heart and cause it to beat
faster. This means more blood is pumped and more oxygen can be delivered to muscles
and cells. When the heart rate is too fast your adrenal glands release norepinephrine to
slow it down. If you exert the body physically, then the heart rate will go up and go back
down after once the exercise is completed. It was decided to have running be the
benchmark for the tests, as that is a basic physical activity that could be effectively
measured.

Methods:
1. Sit down to find subject’s resting heart rate. Count how many beats subject’s heart

does in ten seconds while subject’s heart rate is resting. Multiple this number by

six to get subject’s BPM or Beats per Minute. This will be subject’s pulse. Make sure

to take three different pulses a couple minutes after each other.

2. The subject will run one straight away on a standard track (A distance of about 100

meters).

3. Take subject's pulse directly after running to find subject’s BPM.

4. Test 3 minutes after running and see if it’s similar to the BPM from step 1.
 5. Repeat steps two, three, and four two more times to have three trials to go off.

6. Repeat the process with another subject to compare results with.

Materials: The only item we needed was a stopwatch.

Results:

Subject 1 Before Run After Run

Trial 1 84 156

Trial 2 90 168

Trial 3 102 168

Average 92 164

Subject 2 Before Run After Run

Trial 1 84 186

Trial 2 108 192

Trial 3 96 192

Average 96 190
Discussion: The fact that the heart rate increases shows that the body is trying to keep
homeostasis while the conditions of the body change. Since the body is having to exert
more efforts in its functions, the heart has to increase to account for this and the
increased need for oxygen. The heart rate then decreases back to a normal level as the
body is no longer doing a strenuous task and does not need as much oxygen. This can be
seen in our data, where on average, Subject 2 and Subject 1 had a starting heart rate of 96
BPM and 92 BPM respectively. After the running, the heart rate went up on average to
164 BPM for Subject 1 and 190 BPM for Subject 2. These then went down to the
previously stated averages. As stated in the introduction, it is believed if the body is
exerted physically, then heart rate will go up and will then go back down afterwards. The
experiments proved that the hypothesis is indeed correct. A potential error in our
experiment is that there many not have been a long enough wait between trials, which
could have resulted in the heart rate not going down to its proper level. Human error in
counting could also be an issue. What was discovered is that during exercise heart rate
goes up to maintain homeostasis. Afterwards heart rate is lowered back down because
that level of oxygen is no longer needed. Some other tests that could be done are how
other things would affect heart rate, such as emotional stress or injury. Overall the
experiment went smoothly, and there were no obvious things that went wrong.
 Work Cited

Blue, Marie-Luise. “How Does the Body Regulate Heart Rate?” Sciencing.com, Sciencing, 10
Jan. 2019, sciencing.com/body-regulate-heart-rate-19639.html.
Cespedes, Andrea. “Negative Feedback Exercise & Heart Rates.” LIVESTRONG.COM, Leaf
Group, 30 Jan. 2018, www.livestrong.com/article/536865-negative-feedback-exercise-
heart-rates/.
Santos, Kay. “What Components Are Necessary for an Experiment to Be Valid?” What
Students Learn From Dissecting a Cow's Eye | Education - Seattle PI, 29 Sept. 2016,
education.seattlepi.com/components-necessary-experiment-valid-3630.html.