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A-LevelBiologyTransport in mammals9700/23 · May/June 2019 · Q69 Marks

Fig. 6.1 is a diagram of a vertical section of the human heart and the associated blood vessels. [Figure 6.1]

  1. (a)Complete Table 6.2 by writing the letter from Fig. 6.1 that identifies each of the structures described. Table 6.2 structure in the heart letter valve preventing back flow of blood into a ventricle blood vessel carrying blood under highest pressure chamber that pumps blood to the lungs[3]
  2. (b)Describe the short-term effects of nicotine on the cardiovascular system.[3]
  3. (c)(i)Cardiac myocytes are heart muscle cells. Fetal cardiac myocytes are present before birth and divide rapidly during fetal development. Soon after birth the cell cycle in most of these fetal cardiac myocytes stops, forming adult cardiac myocytes. Most of the adult cells have completed the cell cycle but in some the cell cycle stops at the end of mitosis. State the difference between adult cardiac myocytes that have completed the cell cycle and those that have stopped at the end of mitosis.[1]
  4. (c)(ii)Suggest why it could be a disadvantage that the cell cycle has stopped in most adult cardiac myocytes.[2]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [3] structure in the heart | letter
  2. valves preventing back flow of blood into the ventricle | S;
  3. blood vessel carrying blood under highest pressure | P;
  4. chamber that pumps blood to the lungs | N;
  5. [3] treat as neutral effects of nicotine on the brain and ref. to adrenaline
  6. any three from:
  7. increased heart rate; I increased heart beat
  8. increased blood pressure ;
  9. increases risk of, blood clotting / thrombus formation;
  10. A increases risk of thrombosis
  11. A increases stickiness of platelets
  12. damages the endothelium ;
  13. AVP; e.g. stimulates vasoconstriction / reduces the diameter of blood vessels
  14. A named blood vessel types
  15. [1] any one from:
  16. two nuclei vs one ;
  17. ref. to, DNA / chromosome, content;
  18. cytokinesis has not occurred;
  19. A cytoplasm has not divided (into two cells)
  20. [2] any two from:
  21. in context of cardiac myocyte or overall heart function
  22. unable to replace, damaged / worn out / old, cardiac myocytes ;
  23. R repair myocytes
  24. unable to repair (damaged) cardiac, muscle / tissue ; A heart tissue
  25. repair (to cardiac muscle may be) with, unspecialised cells / scar tissue ;

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About this question

Topic
Transport in mammals, A-Level Biology (syllabus 9700). Structured question, 9 marks.
Source
A-Level Biology, May/June 2019 Paper 2 Variant 3, question 6.

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