Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Jessica H on 31/10/2010 02:43:20

Title: Why do children's hearts beat faster?
Post by: Jessica H on 31/10/2010 02:43:20

The heartrate of a child is much faster than an adult, and small animals have very rapid heartbeats.  Why is that so?

Title: Why do children's hearts beat faster?
Post by: RD on 31/10/2010 05:26:55

Child has larger surface area to volume ratio than adult, (because is smaller): so child has more heat loss per unit area, so needs a higher metabolic rate than an adult to maintain the same body temperature.

Child also has an additional metabolic load because it is growing, (adult isn’t).


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleiber%27s_law