Question 17.7: As a famous biomedical engineer, you are challenged on your ...
As a famous biomedical engineer, you are challenged on your medical exam to determine the heart rate and respiratory rate of a 0.0300 kg mouse, a 70.0 kg human, and a 4000. kg elephant.
The heartbeat rate for mammals in beats per minute is given by Eq. (17.18) as
\text{Heart pulse rate (in beats per minute)} = 241 (m^{−0.25}) = \frac{241}{m^{1/4}} (17.18)
\text{Heartbeat rate} = 241(m^{−0.25}) \text{Beats/min}
so the heartbeat rates of the mouse, human, and elephant are
\text{(Heartbeat rate)}_\text{mouse} = 241(0.0300^{−0.25}) = 579. \text{Beats/min}
\text{(Heartbeat rate)}_\text{human} = 241(70.0^{−0.25}) = 83.3 \text{Beats/min}
\text{(Heartbeat rate)}_\text{elephant} = 241(4000.^{−0.25}) = 30.3 \text{Beats/min}
The respiratory rate of mammals in breaths per minute is given by Eq. (17.19) as
\text{Breathing rate (in breaths per minute)} = 54.0 (m^{−0.25}) = \frac{54.0}{m^{1/4}} (17.19)
\text{Respiratory (breathing) rate} = 54.0 (m^{−0.25}) \text{Breaths/min}
So the breathing rates of the mouse, human, and elephant are
\text{Breathing rate}_\text{mouse} = 54.0 (0.0300^{−0.25}) = 130. \text{Breaths/min}
\text{Breathing rate}_\text{human} = 54.0 (70.0^{−0.25}) = 18.7 \text{Breaths/min}
\text{Breathing rate}_\text{elephant} = 54.0 (4000.^{−0.25}) = 6.79 \text{Breaths/min}