Introduction: Physiology is the study of the functions of living organisms. In this physiology practical, measurements of 41 students’ weight (kg) using electronic weighing scales, height (cm) using height measuring scales, skin fold thickness using callipers (mm), heart rate by counting pulse rates were made and then these results were tabulated on an excel sheet. The aim of this practical is to deduce how students’ weights and heights are distributed and observe if they fall within the normal range.
Method: “refer to schedule”
Results:
The extreme values are the minimum and maximum values. In our class of 41 students, the lowest height measured was 1.38 m and the highest height measured was 1.895 m. As a result the range of the height measured is 0.515 m. Moreover, the mean height for the class was 1.7 m. Moreover, the largest weight measured was 108kg and the lowest weight measured was 36kg. So the range for the weight measured is 72kg. The mean weight for the class was 58.75 kg. Furthermore, the smallest BMI calculated was 16.0 and the highest BMI calculated was 70. Therefore the range for the BMI is 54. And the mean BMI for the class was 24.1. The highest pulse rate measured was 120 bpm (beats per minute) and the lowest was 60 bpm (beats per minute). So the range of the heart rate for the class is 60 bpm (beats per minute). In our class the highest percentage of body fat was 43.7 % and the lowest percentage of body fat was 8.1 %. Consequently the range of the percentage of body fat is 35.6%.
Discussion:
Lifestyle, age and genetics affect weight, height and therefore BMI and your heart rate. Overall and on average, males are taller than females as seen in the results. For example, heights of some males include 1.79 m, 1.71m, 1.75m compared to some heights of females of 1.67m, 1.58m and 1.63m. This difference arises because males have
References: 1.) Chao-Qiang Lai. 2006. “How much of human height is genetic and how much is due to nutrition?” [online] Available at : <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-much-of-human-height> 2.) Gloria, B. et al., 2009. A2-Level Biology. Cumbria: Coordination Group Publications Ltd. 3.) BMI Classification, . World Health Organization. [online] Available at: <http://apps.who.int/bmi/index.jsp?introPage=intro_3.html> 4.) Douglas, B., 1999. Your Personal Trainer. United States of America: United Graphics 5.) Abbassi, V., 1998. Growth and puberty. Pediatrics, 102 (2 Pt 3): 507–513.