The Amount of Hemoglobin and the Blood Volume in Relation to the Pulse Rate and Cardiac Volume During Rest

Abstract

Summary. In a material composed of children, women and men, including athletically trained men and women, the amount of hemoglobin and the blood volume estimated on the basis of the amount of hemoglobin have been placed in relation to the pulse rate, to the pulse rate/standard metabolism ratio estimated by and to the heart volume, determined roentgenologically on a subject in prone position. There is a clear correlation between the amount of hemoglobin and the pulse rate during rest. The correlation is brought out still more clearly if the amount of hemoglobin is pulse rate/standard metabolism placed in relation to the ratio which may be taken as a reference standard for the stroke volume during rest. The amount of hemoglobin and, to a still somewhat higher degree, the blood volume show a very close correlation to the heart volume determined roentgenological^ on a subject in prone position. The correlation coefficient for children, women and men is about 0.90. Broadly speaking, the figures for children, women and men, the athletically trained included, fall along the same regression line. The results serve to explain in a simple way the varying values for the resting pulse rate and heart volume, found in children and adults, women and men, and the physically trained and the untrained, respectively. It seems thus that the larger heart volume in healthy, athletically trained persons could be entirely attributed to the increased blood volume in connection with physical training. The regulation of the blood distribution (in heart, lungs and systemic circulation) is discussed with due regard to the results obtained. The costs of the investigation have been partly defrayed by a grant from the Therese and Johan Andersson Memorial Fund.