These eight questions move from naming to explaining. Write your answer before opening the explanation.
The lessons are in transport in humans and animals. Record your slips in the mistake log and paper-error review.
Questions
1. State the chamber that pumps blood to the lungs and the vessel it leaves by. (2 marks)
Answer
The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs through the pulmonary artery.
2. Blood returns from the lungs to the heart. Name the vessel and the chamber it enters first. (2 marks)
Answer
The pulmonary vein carries it to the left atrium.
3. Explain why the wall of the left ventricle is thicker than the wall of the right ventricle. (2 marks)
Answer
The left ventricle pumps blood to the whole body at high pressure. The right ventricle pumps blood only to the lungs, a shorter distance that needs less pressure.
4. State two differences between an artery and a vein. (2 marks)
Answer
An artery has a thick, elastic wall and no valves. A vein has a thin wall and valves. Arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry it towards the heart.
5. Explain why capillary walls are only one cell thick. (2 marks)
Answer
A thin wall gives a short diffusion distance. Oxygen, carbon dioxide and nutrients pass quickly between blood and cells.
6. Name the component that carries oxygen and explain why it has no nucleus. (3 marks)
Answer
Red blood cells carry oxygen, bound to haemoglobin. With no nucleus, there is more space for haemoglobin, so each cell can carry more oxygen.
7. A cut stops bleeding after a few minutes. Name the component mainly responsible and state one other job of blood that protects the body. (3 marks)
Answer
Platelets help the blood clot. White blood cells protect the body by engulfing pathogens or producing antibodies.
8. A diagram shows a vessel with valves, a wide lumen and low pressure, carrying blood from the arm to the heart. Identify the vessel and explain why valves are needed. (3 marks)
Answer
The vessel is a vein. The blood is at low pressure, so valves stop it flowing backwards and keep it moving towards the heart.
If you got these wrong
- Questions 1 to 3: revisit tracing circulation through the heart.
- Questions 4, 5 and 8: read comparing blood vessels.
- Questions 6 and 7: see explaining blood components and transport.
If the same type of question keeps going wrong, a teacher can trace the cause quickly. See online one-to-one Biology tuition.