A Novel Practical to Demonstrate Systemic and Local Regulation of Circulation in a Human Subject

Systemic and local regulation of peripheral circulation is a vital concept to be taught to undergraduate medical students. There is lack of an effective practical module to demonstrate and reinforce the theoretical understanding of this concept.

We designed a simple feasible novel practical using finger pulse recording coupled with hand grip test and reactive hyperemia protocol to elicit systemic and local regulation of peripheral circulation respectively.

The reduction in finger pulse amplitude during hand grip contralateral to the exercising hand demonstrates systemic regulation while the isolated ipsilateral increase in finger pulse amplitude during reactive hyperemia demonstrates local regulation.

: Here we propose a simple novel practical for effective demonstration of systemic and local regulation of circulation for under-graduate teaching in physiology.