IB DIPLOMA

BIOLOGY
PAST PAPER
QUESTIONS
ON
THE TRANSPORT
SYSTEM

1.

What are the structures labelled I and II on the diagram of the heart?
I
II

A.

I is the pulmonary artery and II is the atrio-ventricular valve.

B.

I is the pulmonary vein and II is the atrio-ventricular valve.

C.

I is the pulmonary artery and II is the semi-lunar valve.

D.

I is the pulmonary vein and II is the semi-lunar valve.

(Total 1 mark)

2.

William Harvey discovered that blood flows away from the heart in arteries and back to the
heart in veins. What hypothesis could be developed from this discovery?
A.

The human body contains both arteries and veins.

B.

Blood vessels link up arteries to veins.

C.

How blood moves from arteries into veins.

D.

Veins are connected to the left side of the heart and arteries to the right side.
(Total 1 mark)

3.

What does the body use to control the heartbeat?

I.

Adrenalin

II.

Pacemaker

III.

Nerves from brain

A.

II and III only

B.

I and II only

C.

I, II and III

D.

I and III only

(Total 1 mark)

4.

Which of the following best describes the composition of human blood?

A.

Erythrocytes, leucocytes and platelets

B.

Erythrocytes, phagocytes and platelets

C.

Erythrocytes, lymphocytes and platelets

D.

Erythrocytes, antigens and platelets

(Total 1 mark)

5.

The diagram below shows the human heart. Which parts contain the most oxygenated blood?

A.

P and T

B.

Q, R and S

C.

T, U, V and W

D.

T, U, R and S
(Total 1 mark)

6.

What is transported by the blood?

I.

Carbon dioxide

II

Antibodies

III

Urea

A.

I only

B.

I and II only

C.

II and III only

D.

I, II and III
(Total 1 mark)

7.

Which is the correct sequence of events in a heart beat?

A.

Atria
contract

Ventricles
contract

Semi-lunar
valves close

Atrio-ventricular
valves close

B.

Atria
contract

Atrio-ventricular
valves close

Ventricles
contract

Semi-lunar
valves close

C.

Atria
contract

Ventricles
contract

Atrio-ventricular
valves close

Semi-lunar
valves open

Ventricles
contract

Atria
contract

Atrio-ventricular
valves close

Semi-lunar
valves close

D.

(Total 1 mark)

8.

Which is the correct sequence of blood flow in normal human circulation?

A.

Pulmonary vein right atrium aorta vena cava

B.

Vena cava pulmonary vein aorta right atrium

C.

Vena cava right atrium pulmonary vein aorta

D.

Pulmonary vein vena cava aorta right atrium

(Total 1 mark)

9.

What is the function of the right ventricle?

A.

Pumping blood into the pulmonary artery

B.

Pumping blood into the pulmonary vein

C.

Pumping blood into the aorta

D.

Pumping blood into the coronary artery

4

(Total 1 mark)

10.

Which vessel carries deoxygenated blood?

A.

The pulmonary artery

B.

The coronary artery

C.

The aorta

D.

The pulmonary vein

(Total 1 mark)

11.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease caused by elevated serum cholesterol levels
resulting in deposition of lipids in arteries. Diet modification, weight reduction and exercise are
initially prescribed to alleviate high cholesterol levels. Due to health and possibly genetic reasons,
these attempts may be unsuccessful. Drugs may then be prescribed to lower cholesterol production.
One of the enzymes that can be competitively inhibited by these drugs is involved in the pathway
for the synthesis of bile and steroid hormones.
The safety and effectiveness of a new member of a family of drugs called statins was
investigated. The effect of the drug on the blood serum levels of cholesterol, low density
lipoproteins (high levels are unhealthy), high density lipoproteins (high levels are healthy) and
triglycerides (high levels are unhealthy) are shown below.
Serum blood level / % change from baseline

Dose of drug / mg

Cholesterol

Low density
lipoproteins

High density
lipoproteins

Triglycerides

0 (placebo)

10

10

29

39

19

20

33

43

26

40

37

50

29

[Source: adapted from Parke-Davis, (2000), Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium) tablets, Spec #0155G247,
page 4, Parke-Davis, New York, www.216.86.213.73/2pdfs/0494lipitor.pdf]

(a)

State the dose that was most effective in raising the level of high density lipoproteins in
the treated groups.
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(1)

(b)

State the relationship between dose and cholesterol levels.

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(2)

(c)

Distinguish the effect of dose size on low density lipoproteins and high density
lipoproteins.
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(1)

(d)

Explain the use of a placebo in these investigations.

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(1)

(e)

Suggest one possible physiological side effect when taking statins for atherosclerosis.
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(1)
(Total 6 marks)

12.

Discuss the factors which affect the occurrence of coronary heart disease.
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(Total 4 marks)

13.

Draw a labelled diagram to show the internal structure of the heart.

(Total 6 marks)

14.
Explain the relationship between the structure and function of arteries, veins and
capillaries.
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(Total 8 marks)

15.

Explain the events of the cardiac cycle.

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(Total 7 marks)

10

16.
Marine mammals have a series of physiological responses to diving. This enables them
to stay submerged for long periods in water colder than their body temperature. Collectively these
responses are termed the diving reflex.
To investigate the diving reflex in humans, heart rate changes in ten healthy subjects were
monitored during facial immersions in water ranging from 3C to 37C. The data for this
experiment is shown below.

5
10
15
P e rc e n ta g e c h a n g e in h e a rt ra te

20
25
30
35
0

10

15
20
25
30
W a te r te m p e ra tu re / C

35

40

[Source: N R York, Effect of Water Temperature on Diving Reflex Induced Bradycardia in Humans,
http://kesler.biology.rhodes.edu/sciJ/York.html]

(a)

(i)

State the effect of facial immersion on heart rate over the range of temperatures
shown on the graph.
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(1)

(ii)

Suggest one reason for the relationship between facial immersion and heart rate.
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(1)

(b)

Outline the effect of the water temperature on heart rate.

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(1)

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(c)
Calculate the heart rate of a person immersed in water at a temperature of 15C, if their
heart rate before immersion was 70 beats per minute.
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(2)
(Total 5 marks)

12