Circulatory System Practice Questions

A blood component is described as a cell with no nucleus, shaped like a biconcave disc and red in colour.

Which blood component is being described?

Put a cross ( ☒ ) in the box next to your answer.

A lymphocyte

B phagocyte

C platelet

D red blood cell

Describe the function of plasma.

Name chamber W.

Name blood vessel Z.

Name the blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.

State the function of the valves in the heart.

Explain how the structure of a red blood cell is adapted for the transport of oxygen.

A person has fewer red blood cells than normal. They become tired very quickly when they exercise.

Explain why.

Describe how a phagocyte destroys a pathogen that has entered the blood.

Explain how platelets help to protect the body when the skin is cut.

Use the data in the table to identify blood vessels P, Q and R.

Put a cross ( ☒ ) in the box next to your answer.

☐ A P = artery, Q = capillary, R = vein

☐ B P = vein, Q = capillary, R = artery

☐ C P = artery, Q = vein, R = capillary

☐ D P = capillary, Q = artery, R = vein

Blood vessel R also contains valves.

Explain how the large lumen and the valves of vessel R help blood to return to the heart.

Suggest why the wall of vessel Q is only 0.001 mm thick.

A cyclist has a resting heart rate of $62$ beats per minute. The stroke volume of her heart is $85$ ml.

Calculate her cardiac output at rest, in litres per minute.

.............................................................. litres per minute

Describe how the student uses this count to calculate his heart rate in beats per minute.

At this heart rate the student has a cardiac output of $6.72$ litres per minute.

Calculate his stroke volume, in ml.

.............................................................. ml

Calculate how many times greater the rate of blood flow to the skeletal muscle is during vigorous exercise than at rest.

.............................................................. times greater

Explain why the rate of blood flow to the skeletal muscle increases during vigorous exercise.

Arteries, capillaries and veins have different structures.

Explain how the structure of each of these three types of blood vessel is related to its function.

Explain one advantage to a mammal of having a double circulatory system.

Explain why the wall of the left ventricle is thicker than the wall of the right ventricle.

Give two variables the student should control in this investigation.

Predict which tissue, the artery or the vein, will return to its original length after the greater total mass has been added. Explain your prediction.

Give one safety precaution the student should take when carrying out this investigation, other than taking care with the masses.

The table shows the heart rate and stroke volume of a rower at rest and during a race.

	heart rate in beats per minute	stroke volume in cm$^3$
at rest	68	72
during the race	165	105

Calculate the difference between the rower's cardiac output during the race and her cardiac output at rest.

Give your answer to three significant figures and give the unit.

.............................................................. unit ..................