3.

4 ORGANISMS AND SUBSTANCE EXCHANGE – MASS TRANSPORT IN

ANIMALS (1) – QUESTIONS

Q1. The graph shows the volume changes in the left ventricle of a human heart during two cardiac
cycles. The numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 represent times when heart valves open or close.

(a) Use information from the graph to complete the table in part (a). Place the number 1, 2, 3
or 4 in the appropriate box.

Valve opens Valve closes

Semi-lunar valve

Atrioventricular valve
(2)

(b) Use the diagram above to calculate the volume of blood pumped per minute by the left
ventricle.

Answer = ____________________ cm3 min−1

(2)

(c) Explain the role of the heart in the formation of tissue fluid.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 1 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) Lymphoedema is a swelling in the legs which may be caused by a blockage in the
lymphatic system.

Suggest how a blockage in the lymphatic system could cause lymphoedema.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 7 marks)

Q2. It is possible to test for signs of heart disease using an exercise test. This involves the patient doing
a controlled period of exercise whilst their heart rate is monitored.

Scientists measured the heart rates of 700 healthy adult males aged between 25 and 54 before,
during and after an exercise test. The test involved running on a treadmill at different speeds.
Their results are shown in the graph below in the form in which they were presented.

The data in the graph above can be used as a reference for doctors when assessing a patient
for heart disease.

(a) The data in the graph above do not provide helpful information for all groups of patients.
Give two groups of patients to which these data could not be applied.

1 _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

Page 2 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) The guidelines for using an exercise test for assessment contain the following statements.

1. Ideally, patients should stop taking any medications for a period of time before the
test.
2. In reality, most patients will need to continue taking their medications.

Suggest an explanation for each of these statements.

Statement 1 ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Statement 2 _________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 3 marks)

Q3. A student determined their pulse rate when sitting down. Describe how they could have investigated
whether their results were typical of all students of their age.

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

[Extra Space] ___________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
(Total 3 marks)

Q4. It is possible to test for signs of heart disease using an exercise test. This involves the patient doing
a controlled period of exercise whilst their heart rate is monitored.

Scientists measured the heart rates of 700 healthy adult males aged between 25 and 54 before,
during and after an exercise test. The test involved running on a treadmill at different speeds.
Their results are shown in the graph below in the form in which they were presented.

Page 3 of 54
 (a) Suggest two variables the scientists would have controlled during the exercise test.

1 _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) Calculate the ratio of the range of heart rates at exercise level 3 and exercise level 1.

Answer = ____________________________________ : 1
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

Q5. The figure below represents a capillary surrounded by tissue fluid.

The values of the hydrostatic pressure are shown.

Arteriole Venule
end direction of blood flow end

Hydrostatic pressure = 4.3 kPa Hydrostatic pressure = 1.6 kPa

Tissue fluid
Hydrostatic pressure = 1.1 kPa

(a) Use the information in the figure above to explain how tissue fluid is formed.

___________________________________________________________________

Page 4 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) The hydrostatic pressure falls from the arteriole end of the capillary to the venule end of
the capillary. Explain why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) High blood pressure leads to an accumulation of tissue fluid. Explain how.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(Extra space) _______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(d) The water potential of the blood plasma is more negative at the venule end of the capillary
than at the arteriole end of the capillary. Explain why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(Extra space) _______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Page 5 of 54
Q6. Haemoglobin transports oxygen around the body of many animals.

(a) Haemoglobin is a protein with a quaternary structure.

Explain the meaning of quaternary structure.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) When fully saturated, each molecule of haemoglobin is bound to four molecules of
oxygen.

The graph shows the percentage saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen at different
partial pressures.

Give the formula for calculating the percentage saturation of haemoglobin with oxygen.

Percentage
saturation of
=
haemoglobin with
oxygen

Page 6 of 54
 (1)

(c) The first molecule of oxygen to bind causes a change in the shape of the haemoglobin
molecule.

This change of shape makes it easier for other oxygen molecules to bind to the
haemoglobin molecule.

Explain how the graph provides evidence for this.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) Suggest one advantage of this change in the affinity of haemoglobin for oxygen.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(e) Tests on the man whose blood was used to construct the graph gave the following data.

• Concentration of haemoglobin in blood = 150 g dm−3.

• Volume of oxygen carried by fully saturated haemoglobin = 1.35 cm3 g−1.
• Resting heart rate = 60 beats minute−1.
• Volume of blood pumped out of left ventricle each beat = 60 cm3.

Use these data and information from the graph to calculate the volume of oxygen
released to the man’s tissues per minute whilst he was at rest.

Show your working.

Answer =______________cm3 minute−1

(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Q7. A student investigated the effect of body position on pulse rate.

The table below shows her processed results.

Page 7 of 54
 Body Pulse rate / beats per minute
position Reading 1 Reading 2 Reading 3 Mean

Sitting 80 76 76 77

Standing 84 88 92 88

Lying down 68 72 68 69

The way the student recorded her pulse produced pulse rates per minute with even numbers.
Other than by chance, suggest why.

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
(Total 1 mark)

Q8. The graph shows the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curves for fetal haemoglobin (HbF) and adult
haemoglobin (HbA).

(a) Explain how changes in the shape of haemoglobin result in the S-shaped (sigmoid)
oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve for HbA.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) At birth 98% of the haemoglobin is HbF. By the age of 6 months, the HbF has usually
completely disappeared from the baby’s blood and been replaced by HbA.

Page 8 of 54
 Use the graph above to explain why this change is an advantage for the baby.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) Sickle cell disease (SCD) is caused by production of faulty HbA. This results in a reduced
ability to transport oxygen to tissues. Scientists investigated the use of a substance called
hydroxyurea to treat babies with SCD. Hydroxyurea changes the concentration of HbF in
the blood.

The scientists carried out an investigation with 122 babies who had SCD. Each baby was
given hydroxyurea for 41 months. The scientists then found the mean change in the
concentration of HbF in the babies’ blood.

Their results are shown in the table.

Mean concentration of HbF in the

babies’ blood / arbitrary units

Before treatment After treatment

with hydroxyurea with hydroxyurea
(± 1 standard (± 1 standard
deviation) deviation)

7.6 19.1
(± 4.5) (± 6.5)

The scientists concluded that treatment with hydroxyurea would increase the
concentration of oxygen in the blood of babies with SCD.

Suggest how the graph and table above support this conclusion.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 7 marks)

Page 9 of 54
Q9. In mammals, the mesenteric artery connects the aorta to blood vessels of the small intestine.

Sport scientists recorded increases in blood flow in the mesenteric artery after different types of
meal. The types of meal were:

• carbohydrate only
• fat only
• protein only.

Typical results are shown in the table.

Maximum Time taken to

percentage reach maximum
Type of meal increase in blood increase in blood
flow in mesenteric flow in mesenteric
artery artery / minutes

Carbohydrate
64 15
only

Fat only 60 30

Protein only 57 45

(a) The sport scientists concluded that the three types of meal had no major effect on
maximum percentage increase in blood flow in the mesenteric artery.

What else can be concluded from their results?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (2)

In another investigation, the sport scientists recorded blood flow in the mesenteric artery before
and after vigorous exercise.

The graph shows their results for a large group of volunteers.

Page 10 of 54
(b) Suggest the advantage of the change in blood flow in the mesenteric artery during
exercise.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(c) The sport scientists concluded people should not do vigorous exercise after a meal.
Does the information from the table and the graph support this conclusion?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 11 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)
(Total 9 marks)

Q10. In a healthy person, blood moves in one direction as it passes through the heart. Give two ways in
which this is achieved.

1. _____________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
(Total 2 marks)

Q11. Scientists investigated the effect of a 6-week exercise programme on the resting heart rate of
males and females.

The scientists recruited a large group of male volunteers and a large group of female
volunteers. They measured the resting heart rate of each volunteer before the exercise
programme. Both groups took part in the same exercise programme. The scientists measured
the resting heart rate of each volunteer after the exercise programme.

The scientists determined the mean resting heart rate and the range of resting heart rates for
each group before and after the exercise programme. The graph shows their results.

(a) What was the range of the resting heart rates in males after the exercise programme?

Page 12 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Calculate the percentage decrease in the mean resting heart rate of females after the
exercise programme. Show your working.

Answer = ____________________ %
(2)

(c) The scientists used the percentage change in the mean resting heart rate after the
exercise programme to compare the results for males and females.

Explain why they used percentage change in the resting heart rate.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) The scientists calculated the cardiac output of the volunteers before and after the exercise
programme. In some volunteers, their cardiac output stayed the same, even though their
resting heart rate decreased.

Explain how their cardiac output could stay the same even when their resting heart rate
had decreased.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q12. (a) What is the function of the coronary arteries?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 13 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) Figure 1 shows some of the large blood vessels in a mammal.

Figure 1

(i) Which of the blood vessels A to H is the vena cava?

(1)

(ii) Which of the blood vessels A to H is the renal artery?

(1)

(c) Figure 2 shows how the blood pressure changes as blood travels from the aorta to the
capillaries.

Figure 2

Page 14 of 54
 The rise and fall in blood pressure in the aorta is greater than in the small
arteries.Suggest why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

[Extra space] _______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 7 marks)

Q13. Haemoglobin is a protein. It is made of two alpha polypeptides and two beta polypeptides. Each
alpha polypeptide has 141 amino acids and each beta polypeptide has 146 amino acids.

(a) What term is used to describe the structure of a protein made of two or more
polypeptides?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Calculate the minimum number of DNA bases needed to code for the number of amino
acids in one alpha polypeptide.

Page 15 of 54
 Answer = ____________________
(1)

(c) Describe the role of haemoglobin in supplying oxygen to the tissues of the body.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

Anaemia is a condition in which there is a decrease in the concentration of haemoglobin in

blood. In some people with anaemia, substances are produced which change the oxygen
dissociation curve of haemoglobin.

The graph shows the effect of these substances on the oxygen dissociation curve of
haemoglobin.

(d) (i) Use information in the graph to find the difference in the percentage saturation of
haemoglobin with oxygen between a healthy person and a person with anaemia at a
partial pressure of oxygen of 4 kPa.

Page 16 of 54
 Answer = ____________________
(1)

(ii) Explain the advantage to a person with anaemia of the change shown in the oxygen
dissociation curve.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Q14. (a) Explain four ways in which the structure of the aorta is related to its function.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (4)

Figure 1 shows the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curves for two different species, A and B.

Figure 1

Page 17 of 54
(b) Species B is more active than species A. Use Figure 1 to explain how the haemoglobin
of species B allows a greater level of activity.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (4)

(c) An electrocardiogram (ECG) shows the electrical activity of the heart. Figure 2 shows an
ECG for an animal of species B at rest. Each large spike represents a contraction of the
ventricles.

Figure 2

Page 18 of 54
 For species B, the mean volume of blood leaving the left ventricle during each contraction
is 0.03 cm3.

Calculate the mean volume of blood leaving the left ventricle per minute.

Volume of blood = ___________________________ cm3 minute−1

(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Q15. The diagram shows a section through the heart. The main blood vessels are labelled A, B, C and
D.

(a) Write a letter, A, B, C or D, in the box to represent the correct blood vessel.

(i) Which blood vessel carries oxygenated blood away from the heart?

Page 19 of 54
 (1)

(i) Which blood vessel carries deoxygenated blood to the heart?

(1)

(b) Explain how the highest blood pressure is produced in the left ventricle.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (1)

(c) Some babies are born with a hole between the right and the left ventricles.

These babies are unable to get enough oxygen to their tissues.

Suggest why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (2)
(Total 5 marks)

Q16. The figure below shows recordings made from the heart of a dog.

Time / seconds

Time / seconds

Page 20 of 54
 Time / seconds

(a) Use information from the figure to explain how the pressure in the dog’s ventricle is
related to blood flow into the aorta.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(Extra space)________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (2)

(b) Use information from the figure to explain how the pressure in the dog’s ventricle is
related to the thickness of the ventricle wall.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(Extra space)________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) Use the figure to calculate the heart rate of the dog in beats per minute.
Show your working.

Heart rate ____________________ beats per minute

(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Q17. The table shows the volume of blood in a woman’s left ventricle at different times during one
second.

Page 21 of 54
 Volume of blood in
Time / seconds
left ventricle / cm3
0.0 112
0.1 120
0.2 95
0.3 65
0.4 50
0.5 55
0.6 82
0.7 90
0.8 100
0.9 112
1.0 120

(a) Use the data in the table to calculate the heart rate in beats per minute.

Tick (✔) one box next to the correct answer.

60

66.7

75

85.7

(1)

(b) The stroke volume is the volume of blood pumped out of the left ventricle during one
cardiac cycle.

Use the table above to determine the stroke volume.

Stroke volume = ____________________ cm3

(1)

(c) Some people produce a much higher ventricular blood pressure than normal. This can
cause tissue fluid to build up outside the blood capillaries of these people.

Explain why.

Page 22 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) Some drugs used to reduce high ventricular blood pressure cause widening of blood
vessels.

Suggest how widening of blood vessels can reduce ventricular blood pressure.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Q18. A principle of homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment. An increase in

the concentration of carbon dioxide would change the internal environment and blood pH.
Explain the importance of maintaining a constant blood pH.

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

[Extra space] ___________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
(Total 3 marks)

Q19. The mean internal diameter and the mean speed of blood flow for different human blood vessels
are shown below in the table.

Page 23 of 54
 Mean internal Mean speed of
Blood vessel
diameter / mm blood flow / mm s−1

Aorta 35 470

Coronary artery 4 380

Arteriole 0.03 110

Capillary 0.001 15

Vena cava 20 270

(a) Although the speed of blood flow in an arteriole is greater than speed of blood flow in a
capillary, blood does not accumulate in the arterioles.

Explain why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Other than causing slow blood flow, explain one advantage of capillaries being narrow.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) What factor limits the minimum internal diameter of the lumen of a capillary?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(d) The volume of blood leaving the capillary network into the veins is less than the volume of
blood entering from the arteries.

Explain why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

Page 24 of 54
Q20. Some substances can cross the cell-surface membrane of a cell by simple diffusion through the
phospholipid bilayer. Describe other ways by which substances cross this membrane.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(Total 5 marks)

Q21. Some people have a condition called white-coat hypertension. People with this condition develop a
higher than normal heart rate and blood pressure when they are in a doctor’s surgery. High heart rate is
correlated with high blood pressure.

Doctors investigated differences in heart rate between men with white-coat hypertension and
those without the condition. They measured the men’s mean heart rates:

• in the doctor’s surgery, by recording the pulse in the wrist for 1 minute, when the men
were lying down

• at home, using a portable heart rate monitor when the men were walking around

• at home, using a portable heart rate monitor when the men were sleeping.

(a) The groups of men selected for this investigation were matched.

Other than being men, suggest one factor for which they should have been matched.

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Explain why the pulse recordings in the doctor’s surgery were taken when the men
were lying down.

Page 25 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) The pulse felt in the artery in the wrist can be recorded and used to measure heart
rate.

Suggest why the pulse felt can be used to measure heart rate.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) The portable heart rate monitor recorded the men’s heart rates continuously. This
gave more reliable mean heart rates than those obtained by recording the pulse in
the wrist for 1 minute.

Suggest why it is more reliable.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(e) The table shows the doctors’ results.

Mean heart rate / beats per minute

Where and how heart rate
was measured Men with white-coat Men without white-coat
hypertension hypertension

Doctor’s surgery, recording

67 63
pulse when lying down

At home, walking around,

76 73
using heart monitor

At home, sleeping, using heart

63 60
monitor

A journalist, who saw these results, stated that they showed there is no such thing as

Page 26 of 54
 white-coat hypertension.

Do these data support this statement? Give reasons for your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q22. If red blood cells are placed in pure water, water enters the cells by osmosis and they burst. This is
called haemolysis. As red blood cells burst they release pigment.

Scientists placed samples of red blood cells in different concentrations of sodium chloride
solution for the same period of time. They used red blood cells from four different mammals:
dog, guinea pig, rabbit and sheep.

If haemolysis had taken place, the solution turned red. The scientists measured the intensity of
the red colour using a colorimeter. The more intense the red colour, the greater the amount of
haemolysis.

The scientists calculated the percentage of red blood cells that were haemolysed in each
sodium chloride solution.

The following figure shows the scientists’ results.

Page 27 of 54
(a) Use the figure to give two differences between the results for dog and sheep.

Difference 1 _________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Difference 2 _________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) Calculate the difference in the percentage of haemolysed cells between sheep and rabbit
at a sodium chloride concentration of 0.5%.

____________________
(1)

(c) Explain the relationship between the depth of the red colour of the solution and how much
haemolysis has taken place.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) During treatment in a veterinary surgery, any of the mammals in the figure above may be
given an infusion of sodium chloride solution directly into a vein. The concentration of
sodium chloride solution used is 0.9%, rather than 0.5%, regardless of the species of
mammal.

Explain the advantage to the vet of using this concentration.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(Extra space) ________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 28 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________ (2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q23. (a) (i) An arteriole is described as an organ. Explain why.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) An arteriole contains muscle fibres. Explain how these muscle fibres reduce blood
flow to capillaries.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) (i) A capillary has a thin wall. This leads to rapid exchange of substances between the
blood and tissue fluid. Explain why.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) Blood flow in capillaries is slow. Give the advantage of this.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) Kwashiorkor is a disease caused by a lack of protein in the blood. This leads to a swollen
abdomen due to a build up of tissue fluid.

Explain why a lack of protein in the blood causes a build up of tissue fluid.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 29 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(Extra space)________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (3)
(Total 8 marks)

Q24. Some people have a form of heart failure where their heart is not pumping blood as well as it used
to. Some people with heart failure are given an artificial heart to improve circulation of blood from the left
ventricle.
Figure 1 shows where this type of artificial heart is connected.

Figure 1

(a) Name the blood vessel to which the artificial heart is connected.

___________________________________________________________________ (1)

(b) In these patients, the right ventricle still produces sufficient blood flow to keep the patient
alive.

Suggest why the left ventricle requires the help of the artificial heart but the right ventricle
does not.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (2)

Page 30 of 54
(c) Figure 2 shows the internal structure of this type of artificial heart.

Figure 2

Valves A and B have the same functions as heart valves involved in the cardiac cycle.
Name the heart valve that has the same function as:

valve A ____________________________________________________________

valve B ____________________________________________________________ (2)

(d) There are different designs of artificial heart. Doctors compared results for patients who
received two different types of artificial heart, X and Y.

They recorded information 2 years after the artificial hearts were implanted. Their results
are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3

Information recorded 2 years after artificial heart

implanted

Number of
Number of
patients
patients
surviving but Number of
Type of artificial surviving
who required patients who
heart without
repair or died
replacement of
replacement of
artificial heart
artificial heart

X
62 13 44
(119 patients)

Y
7 24 27
(58 patients)

Which type of artificial heart was the more successful? Use calculations to support your

Page 31 of 54
 answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(Extra space)________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Q25. (a) The table shows three statements about some biological molecules. Complete the table with
a tick in each box if the statement is true for haemoglobin, cellulose or starch.

Statement Haemoglobin Cellulose Starch

Has a quaternary
structure

Formed by
condensation reactions

Contains nitrogen
(3)

The graph shows oxygen dissociation curves for the haemoglobin of a mother and her fetus.

Page 32 of 54
 Partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) / kPa

(b) What is the difference in percentage saturation between the haemoglobin of the mother
and her fetus at a partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) of 4 kPa?

(1)

(c) The oxygen dissociation curve of the fetus is to the left of that for its mother. Explain the
advantage of this for the fetus.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) After birth, fetal haemoglobin is replaced with adult haemoglobin. Use the graph to
suggest the advantage of this to the baby.

___________________________________________________________________

Page 33 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(e) Hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin (HPFH) is a condition in which production of

fetal haemoglobin continues into adulthood. Adult haemoglobin is also produced.

People with HPFH do not usually show symptoms. Suggest why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 9 marks)

Q26.
(a) Describe how a heartbeat is initiated and coordinated.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(5)

Page 34 of 54
 (b) Explain how the heart muscle and the heart valves maintain a one-way flow of blood from
the left atrium to the aorta.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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(Total 10 marks)

Q27. The artery leaving the left ventricle is the aorta. One form of heart disease is aortic valve disease
(AVD). In this disease, the valve (the aortic valve) between the left ventricle and the aorta opens normally
but only partly closes. This means that when the ventricle relaxes some blood flows back into the
ventricle from the aorta.

Severe AVD can be treated by replacing the aortic valve.

A surgeon investigated the effect of this treatment,

• He replaced the aortic valves of 19 patients with valves removed from donors who had
recently died.
• The valves from donors were stored in an isotonic antibiotic solution before use.
• He recorded the maximum pressure reached in an artery (as the ventricles contract) and
minimum pressure in the artery (as the ventricles relax) in each patient before and after
valve replacement surgery.

His results are shown in Table 1.

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 Table 1

Mean maximum Mean minimum

pressure reached in pressure reached in
the artery / kPa (± the artery / kPa (±
standard deviation) standard deviation)

Before
21.7 (±3.5) 4.8 (±2.5)
surgery

After surgery 18.2 (±2.2) 11.0 (±1.1)

This investigation involved 19 patients.

• The mean age was 36 years (standard deviation ±17 years).

• The mean time after surgery that pressure readings were taken was 7 months (standard
deviation ±5 months).

Table 2 shows the normal range of values of pressure in this artery in the UK.

Table 2

Range of pressures /
Pressure
kPa

Maximum 12.0 to 18.5

Minimum 8.0 to 11.9

Aortic valves removed from donors were stored in isotonic solution containing an antibiotic
before being used in valve replacement surgery.

(a) Explain why the valves were stored in an isotonic solution.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) Explain why the valves were stored in a solution containing an antibiotic.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) There was a significant increase in the minimum blood pressure in the artery after valve

Page 36 of 54
 replacement surgery.
Explain why the valve replacement surgery had this effect.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(d) The surgeon concluded that there was sufficient evidence for him to continue using this
treatment.

How does the information above support his conclusion?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

[Extra Space] _______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(e) How does the information above not support his conclusion?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (2)

(f) From the data in Table 1 it is not possible to determine the highest pressure measured.
Explain why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (1)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 37 of 54
Q28. (a) Sodium ions from salt (sodium chloride) are absorbed by cells lining the gut. Some of these
cells have membranes with a carrier protein called NHE3.

NHE3 actively transports one sodium ion into the cell in exchange for one proton
(hydrogen ion) out of the cell.

Use your knowledge of transport across cell membranes to suggest how NHE3 does this.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b) Scientists investigated the use of a drug called Tenapanor to reduce salt absorption in the
gut. Tenapanor inhibits the carrier protein, NHE3.

The scientists fed a diet containing a high concentration of salt to two groups of rats,
A and B.

• The rats in Group A were not given Tenapanor (0 mg kg−1).

• The rats in Group B were given 3 mg kg−1 Tenapanor.

One hour after treatment, the scientists removed the gut contents of the rats and
immediately weighed them.

Their results are shown in the table.

Concentration of Mean mass of contents

Tenapanor / mg kg−1 of the gut / g

0 2.0

3 4.1

The scientists carried out a statistical test to see whether the difference in the means was
significant. They calculated a P value of less than 0.05.

They concluded that Tenapanor did reduce salt absorption in the gut.

Use all the information provided and your knowledge of water potential to explain how
they reached this conclusion.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(4)

(c) High absorption of salt from the diet can result in a higher than normal concentration of
salt in the blood plasma entering capillaries. This can lead to a build-up of tissue fluid.

Explain how.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (2)
(Total 9 marks)

Q29. Patau syndrome is a condition caused by a mutation affecting chromosome number. All the cells
of the body will have this mutation.

Figure 1 shows the chromosomes from one of the cells of a female who has Patau syndrome.

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(a) What is the effect of Patau syndrome on the chromosomes of this female?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Describe how the change in chromosome number in Patau syndrome was produced.

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___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) Explain why all the cells of the body will have this mutation.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 40 of 54
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (2)

(d) Most children born with Patau syndrome die in the first 12 months, often due to defects of
circulation of blood.

One of these defects is patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). This can result in some of the
blood flowing between the aorta and the pulmonary artery.
Figure 2 shows a healthy child’s heart and the heart of a child with PDA.

Suggest how the flow of some of the blood between the aorta and pulmonary artery could
cause children to die in the first 12 months.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________ (3)
(Total 8 marks)

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Q30. An electrocardiogram is made by attaching recording electrodes to a person’s chest. It shows the
electrical changes that take place in a person’s heart each time it beats. A sports physiologist produced
electrocardiograms for a fit adult male.

Chart X shows an electrocardiogram from this man after 10 minutes of complete rest.
A cardiac cycle consists of the filling time and the contraction time. The filling time and the
contraction time for one cardiac cycle are shown on this chart.

Chart X

Chart Y shows an electrocardiogram from the same man immediately after a period of exercise.

Chart Y

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(a) Give one way in which an electrocardiogram could have produced more reliable results
than counting the pulse.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) (i) Chart X shows that the man’s resting heart rate was 67 beats per minute. What was
his pulse rate? Explain your answer.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii) Use chart Y to calculate the man’s heart rate after the period of exercise.
Show your working.

Answer ____________________ beats per minute

(2)

(c) Use charts X and Y to describe how exercise affected filling time.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) The physiologist used electrocardiograms to investigate the effect of increasing heart rate
on filling time.
Describe how she could have modified the method of exercising you used to produce a
range of increases in heart rate.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 9 marks)

Q31. Scientists compared the results of three investigations, A, B and C. These investigations were into
the effect of drinking different amounts of alcohol on the risk of developing heart disease.

The graph shows the results of these investigations.

(a) Describe the relationship between increasing the number of alcoholic drinks per day and
the risk of heart disease in investigation A.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) All the volunteers who took part in investigation C were aged between 40 and 50 years
old. Explain how choosing volunteers of a similar age improved this investigation.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) A newspaper headline used the information in the graph to claim ‘Alcohol is good for you.’
Evaluate this claim.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(Extra space)________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q32. Ivabradine is a drug that slows heart rate. It is taken as a pill. Doctors investigated its value in
reducing the resting heart rate of patients with coronary heart disease.

• They described their investigation as a large-scale, controlled trial. It was also carried out
on people living in different areas.
• The results of the trial showed that ivabradine slowed heart rate.
• Angina is a pain in the chest. It results when insufficient oxygen is brought to the heart
muscle during exercise. The doctors found that ivabradine reduced angina.

(a) The results of the ivabradine trial were reliable.

(i) Explain the importance of the ivabradine investigation being a large-scale trial.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ (1)

(ii) Explain the importance of the ivabradine investigation being carried out on people
living in different areas.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________ (1)

(b) The ivabradine investigation was a controlled trial. Suggest how the control group would
have been treated.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ (2)

Page 45 of 54
(c) An electrocardiogram is made by attaching recording electrodes to a person’s chest. It
shows the electrical changes that take place in a person’s heart each time it beats. A
sports physiologist produced electrocardiograms for a fit adult male.

Chart X shows an electrocardiogram from this man after 10 minutes of complete rest.
A cardiac cycle consists of the filling time and the contraction time. The filling time and the
contraction time for one cardiac cycle are shown on this chart.

Chart X

Chart Y shows an electrocardiogram from the same man immediately after a period of
exercise.

Chart Y

Ivabradine slows heart rate.

Page 46 of 54
 (i) Use information from the charts above to explain why ivabradine increases the
volume of blood entering the heart during a cardiac cycle.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) Ivabradine reduces angina. Suggest how an increase in the volume of blood
entering the heart reduces angina.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(Extra space)___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Q33. (a) The oxygen dissociation curve for haemoglobin shifts to the right during vigorous exercise.
Explain the advantage of this shift.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b) Weddell seals are diving mammals that live in cold environments. A Weddell seal is
shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

Page 47 of 54
 By Jerzystrzelecki (own work)
[CC BY 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons

(i) Explain how the body shape of a Weddell seal is an adaptation to living in a cold
environment.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii) Weddell seals can remain underwater for long periods of time. Figure 2 shows the
rate of blood flow to different organs of a Weddell seal before a dive and during a
long dive.

Figure 2

Organ

Describe and explain the changes in the rate of blood flow to the different organs
during a long dive.

______________________________________________________________

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 ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(Extra space) ___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Q34. (a) Scientists measured the rate of water flow and the pressure in the xylem in a small branch.
Their results are shown in the graph.

(i) Use your knowledge of transpiration to explain the changes in the rate of flow in the
xylem shown in the graph.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(Extra space)___________________________________________________

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Page 49 of 54
 ______________________________________________________________
(3)

(ii) Explain why the values for the pressure in the xylem are negative.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Doctors measured the thickness of the walls of three blood vessels in a large group of
people. Their results are given in the table.

Name of vessel Mean wall thickness /mm

(± standard deviation)

Aorta 5.7 ± 1.2

Pulmonary artery 1.0 ± 0.2

Pulmonary vein 0.5 ± 0.2

(i) Explain the difference in thickness between the pulmonary artery and the pulmonary
vein.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) The thickness of the aorta wall changes all the time during each cardiac cycle.
Explain why

______________________________________________________________

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(Extra space)___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(3)

Page 50 of 54
 (iii) Which of the three blood vessels shows the greatest variation in wall thickness?
Explain your answer.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) Describe how tissue fluid is formed and how it is returned to the circulatory system.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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(Extra space)________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________ (6)
(Total 15 marks)

Page 51 of 54
Q35. Tubifex worms are small, thin animals that live in water. They have no specialised gas exchange
or circulatory system.

The figure below shows a tubifex worm.

(a) Name the process by which oxygen reaches the cells inside the body of a tubifex worm.

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Using the information provided, explain how two features of the body of the tubifex worm
allow efficient gas exchange.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) Most species of tubifex worms live at the bottom of ponds, lakes and rivers where the
partial pressure of oxygen is low. Pollution of water by sewage can cause the partial
pressure of oxygen to fall below 0.2 kPa.

The graph shows the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve for a species of tubifex worm
found in a river polluted with sewage.

The species of tubifex worm in the graph has 50% saturation of their haemoglobin with
oxygen at 0.08 kPa.

Explain how this enables this species to survive in water polluted with sewage.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) Species of tubifex worm that live in ponds, lakes and rivers cannot survive in seawater.

Use your knowledge of water potential to explain why they cannot survive in seawater.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

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Page 54 of 54