Exploring Endocrine Circulatory Respiratory Systems

This assignment is a lab report part 2 on Exploring Endocrine, Circulatory, and Respiratory Systems. The report answers questions about how insulin and glucagon function in glucose metabolism, how the cardiovascular and respiratory systems work together to deliver blood to body tissues, and how stress hormones produced by the adrenal gland can alter respiratory and heart rates during exercise.

Student Sheet
Name:
Date:
Instructor’s Name:
Assignment: SCIE207 Phase 4 Lab Report Part 2
Title: Exploring Endocrine, Circulatory, and Respiratory Systems
Instructions: Your lab report from Part 1 along with the Part 2 activity will serve as a guide to
answer the questions and to complete the tables for the endocrine, cardiovascular (circulatory),
and respiratory systems.
When your lab report is complete, submit this document to your instructor in your
assignment box.
Endocrine System
Question 1: How does the insulin and glucagon secreted by the pancreas function in glucose
metabolism?
Answer 1:
Insulin and glucagon work synergistically to maintain the blood glucose levels within the normal
range. The elevated blood glucose level stimulates pancreatic beta cells to secrete insulin. Insulin
facilitates the glucose uptake by body cells, and the liver uptake the glucose and store it as
glycogen. Above actions reinstigate the blood glucose levels back to normal. When the blood
glucose levels are lower, the pancreatic alpha cells produce glucagon. The glucagon triggers the
liver to facilitate the conversion of glycogen to glucose which return levels back to normal.
Cardiovascular System
Blood flows through the body in two distinct pathways: the pulmonary pathway and the systemic

pathway. The blood flowing in the pulmonary pathway is deoxygenated, and it delivers this
blood to the lungs to be oxygenated again. The blood flowing in the systemic pathway leaves the
lungs full of oxygen and flows through the heart to be delivered to the body tissues.
Instructions: Complete the following table to demonstrate the correct order for the
pulmonary and systemic circulation as you trace a drop of blood through the body.
Pulmonary Circulation Systemic Circulation
1. Venules 1. Pulmonary veins
2. Veins 2. Left atrium
3. Vena cava 3. Left ventricle
4. Right atrium 4. Aorta
5. Right ventricle 5. Arteries
6. Pulmonary arteries 6. Arterioles
7. Lung 7. Capillaries
Question 2: How do the cardiovascular and respiratory system work together to deliver blood to
the body tissues?
Answer 2:
Oxygen inhaled through the nasal cavity or the mouth travels to the alveoli in the lungs where
oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide via capillary exchange. The respiratory system functions
in the exchange of gases with the outside environment. The oxygenated blood flows back to the
heart from the lungs. It enters from the left side of the heart and oxygen delivery to all the body
tissues is carried out via the aorta. In the body tissues again, oxygen is exchanged for carbon

dioxide via capillary exchange. This deoxygenated blood flows back to the right side of the heart
and then to the lung. In the capillaries that run across the alveoli, carbon dioxide is exchanged for
oxygen that has recently been inhaled. The carbon dioxide will then be exhaled through the
mouth and nasal cavity.
Respiratory System
Exercising is an activity that requires the actions of multiple body organ systems. Each system
performs its specific tasks, but all of the systems must work together to allow effective total body
function during exercising.
Using the lab activity, observe and record the physiologic changes that occur during exercising
using the following chart:
Activity Breathing Rate:
bpm(breaths per
minute)
Pulse Rate:
bpm (beats
per minute)
At rest 16 bpm 70 bpm
During exercising 30 bpm 135 bpm
Immediately after exercising 30 bpm 105 bpm
5 minutes after exercising 25 bpm 90 bpm
Question 3: The body experiences some stressor like exercise, fright, or emotional stress whether
it is joy or sorrow. There are certain hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine that are
produced during these stressful events. These hormones are produced by the adrenal gland, and
they will have an effect on the heart rate and breathing rate. Explain how the hormones produced
by the adrenal could play a role in altering the respiratory and heart rates during exercise.

Answer 3:
In such situation, the hypothalamus receives signals of the stress response and the body produces
stress hormones. Adrenal gland which is an endocrine gland releases Norepinephrine and
Epinephrine into the blood. These hormones enhances the carbon dioxide levels and thereby
increases the respiratory rate. The heartbeats is increased by Epinephrine whereas norepinephrine
constricts the blood vessel. These events increases the heart rate, the force of individual heart
contraction, and the amount of blood flow to the muscles. These prepare the body to react to the
stressor that has occurred.