1.4: Activity 2

Understanding the Concept of Homeostasis Following the Scientific Inquiry Method

Homeostasis, as currently defined, is a self-regulating process by which biological systems maintain stability while adjusting to changing external conditions. This concept explains how an organism can maintain more or less constant internal conditions that allow it to adapt and to survive in the face of a changing and often hostile external environment. A set point is the physiological value around which the normal range fluctuates. A normal range is the restricted set of values that is optimally healthful and stable. Many medical conditions and diseases result from altered homeostasis. In this activity, we will study the impact of low and moderate intensity physical workouts on homeostasis by observing changes in vital signs such as pulse rate and respiratory rate. Vital signs are measurements of the body’s most basic functions. The four main vital signs routinely monitored by medical professionals include the following:

1. Body temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees Fahrenheit (°F) : According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, fever is indicated when body temperature rises one degree or more over the normal temperature of 98.6°F (or one degree over the individual’s baseline temperature). Hypothermia is defined as a reduction in body temperature below 95°F.
2. Pulse rate in beats per minute (bpm): The pulse rate is a measurement of the heart rate, or the number of times the heart beats per minute. As the ventricles of the heart contract and pump blood through the arteries, the arteries expand and contract with the flow of the blood. Taking a pulse not only measures the heart rate, but also can indicate heart rhythm (strength of heart contraction). The normal resting pulse for healthy adults, ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. The pulse rate may fluctuate with exercise, illness, injury, and emotions. Females ages 12 and older, in general, tend to have faster heart rates than do males. Athletes such as runners, who do a lot of cardiovascular conditioning, may have heart rates near 40 beats per minute.
3. Rate of breathing (per minute): Respiration rate or rate of breathing in breaths per minute (bpm): The respiration rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. Normal respiration rates for an adult person at rest range from 12 to 18 breaths per minute. The rate is usually measured when a person is at rest and simply involves counting the number of breaths for one minute by observing how many times the chest rises. Respiration rates may increase with fever, illness, trauma, and other medical conditions. Comparing patients’ vital sign measurements to the normal range of values is useful for detecting changes in the physiology or medical problems.
4. Blood pressure is a crucial vital sign that reflects the force of blood pushing against the artery walls. Normal blood pressure for adults is typically around 120/80 mmHg, but this can vary based on age, health, and other factors. Along with other vital signs like pulse, respiration, and temperature, blood pressure provides a snapshot of a person's overall health and can indicate potential medical issues.

Exercise causes many factors of homeostasis to kick in to maintain internal equilibrium. How exercise affects some of these parameters can be determined by comparing vital sign measurements to the standard reference range of values.

Conclusion and Communication

1. Restate the initial question and hypothesis - Briefly remind the reader of the research question and the initial hypothesis you were testing.
2. Interpret results in relation to the hypothesis - Explain whether your data supports or rejects your hypothesis and why.
3. Acknowledge limitations - Mention any potential limitations or sources of error in your experiment that could affect the interpretation of the results.