Associations between heart size and anthropometric and cardiovascular indicators: an undergraduate physiology...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Human Anatomy
• Medical Education

Background:

• Heart size is a critical indicator of cardiovascular health.
• Various anthropometric measures, including age, sex, body height, body weight, and fat-free mass, influence heart size.
• Understanding these relationships is vital for clinical practice and cardiac anatomy/physiology exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a physiology teaching laboratory for undergraduate students.
• To facilitate student understanding of the relationship between heart size and anthropometric/cardiovascular measures.
• To provide hands-on experience with cardiac ultrasound and data collection.

Main Methods:

• Students observed professional cardiac sonographers measuring heart size using ultrasound.
• Students measured anthropometric parameters (age, sex, height, weight, body fat percentage, hand palm diameter).
• Students measured cardiovascular parameters (heart rate, blood pressure) and explored basic associations with heart size.

Main Results:

• The laboratory successfully provided students with practical experience in cardiac measurement and data analysis.
• Students gained comprehension of the qualitative and quantitative relationships between heart size and anthropometric/cardiovascular indicators.
• The learning objectives were met, enhancing understanding of cardiac physiology.

Conclusions:

• The developed physiology laboratory effectively supports undergraduate learning of heart size determinants.
• This educational approach is crucial for understanding fundamental cardiac physiology and its clinical relevance.
• Hands-on learning with ultrasound and anthropometric measurements deepens comprehension of cardiovascular health indicators.