1.

The diagram shows a human heart

(a)

On the diagram, label the position of the atrioventricular node.

(1)

An electro-cardiogram (ECG) is produced by placing electrodes on the chest to detect

electrical changes in the heart.
The diagram shows an ECG and the pressure changes during a human cardiac cycle.

P re ssu re
in a o rta

B lo o d
p re ssu re

P re s s u r e in
le ft v e n tr ic le

R
T

P
ECG

Q
0

S
0 .1

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0 .2

0 .3
0 .4
T im e /s e c o n d s

0 .5

0 .6

0 .7

0 .8

(b)

(i)
The QRS wave is associated with the spread of electrical activity over
the ventricle. Explain the evidence in the graph which supports this.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

Explain why there is no change in the electrical activity between 0.31s and 0.77s.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(c)

(i)

At what time in the cardiac cycle does the aortic semilunar valve open?

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

The pressure changes shown in the diagram are on the left side of the heart.
Sketch a curve on the graph to show the pressure changes in the right ventricle.
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

2.

The graph shows the heart rate before, during and after exercise.

160
H e a rt ra te /
b e a ts p e r
m in u te

120
80
0

5
R est

(b)

(i)

10
15
T im e /m in u te s
E x e rc is e

20

25

R e c o v e ry

The cardiac output is the amount of blood one ventricle pumps out per minute. The table
shows the percentage of the cardiac output distributed to various organs when the body is
at rest.
Organ

Percentage of cardiac
output at rest

Bone

Brain

15

Heart

Kidneys

25

Liver

15

Skin

At rest the amount of blood pumped out by a single contraction of one ventricle is
70 cm3 and the mean heart rate is 72 beats per minute. Calculate the total volume of
blood supplied to the brain per minute.
Show your working.

Answer = ..........................
(2)

(ii)

Prolonged training often results in a decrease in the resting heart rate although the
cardiac output remains the same. How is this decrease achieved?
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)

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(Total 3 marks)

3.

The diagram shows a mammalian heart. Structures A and B are involved in coordinating the
heart beat.

(a)

Name structures A and B.

A ..........................................
B ..........................................
(2)

(b)

Describe the role of structure A in coordinating the heart beat.

.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(c)

The graph shows the changes in pressure which take place in the left side of the heart.
15
A o rta

P re ssu re /
kPa

10

L e ft v e n tric le
5
L e ft
a tr iu m
0
0 .2

(i)

0 .4
0 .6
T im e /se c o n d s

0 .8

1 .0

Use the graph to calculate the heart rate in beats per minute. Show your working.
Answer ..............................
(2)

(ii)

The atrioventricular valve closes at 0.1 seconds.

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Explain the evidence from the graph which supports this statement.
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(1)

(d)

The blood pressure in the aorta is higher than in the pulmonary artery.
Explain what causes the blood pressure in the aorta to be higher.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 8 marks)

4.

(a) The times taken in the various stages of a complete cardiac cycle are shown in the
table.

(i)

Stage of cardiac cycle

Time taken / s

Contraction of the atria

0.1

Contraction of the ventricles

0.3

Relaxation of both atria and ventricles

0.4

Use the information in the table to calculate the heart rate in beats per minute.
Answer ................................ beats per minute
(1)

(ii)

If the same rate of heartbeat were maintained throughout a twelve-hour period, for
how many hours would the ventricular muscle be contracting? Show your working.
Answer ...................................... hours
(2)

(b)

Although the heart does have a nerve supply, the role of the nervous system is not to
initiate the heartbeat but rather to modify the rate of contraction. The heart determines its
own regular contraction.
(i)

Describe how the regular contraction of the atria and ventricles is initiated and

coordinated by the heart itself.

..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(5)

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(c)

An interventricular septal defect is an opening in the wall (septum) that separates the left
and right ventricles. Suggest and explain the effect of this defect on blood flow through
the heart.
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

5.
(a) During a cardiac cycle, a wave of electrical activity spreads from the sino-atrial node.
Describe how the spread of this wave of electrical activity results in
(i)

the ventricles only contracting after they have filled with blood;
............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
(I)

(ii)

the contraction of the ventricles starting at the apex of the heart.

............................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

The graphs show some of the pressure and volume changes that take place in the left side
of the heart during part of a cardiac cycle.
16
14

K ey

12
P re ss u re /k P a

A o rta
L e ft v e n tric le
L e ft a triu m

10
8
6
4
2
0

T im e

130
120
V o lu m e o f
le ft v e n tric le /c m

110
3

100
90
80
70
60
A

T im e

Using information from the graphs, describe the events which produce the change in
volume of blood in the ventricle between times A and B.
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

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6.

The diagrams show the left side of the heart at two stages in a cardiac cycle.

D ia g ra m A

(a)

D ia g ra m B

Name the structure labelled X.

....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Describe two pieces of evidence in Diagram B which indicate that the ventricle is
emptying.
1 .................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
2 .................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(c)

The cardiac output is the volume of blood that one ventricle pumps out per minute. The
resting heart rate of an athlete often decreases as a result of training, even though the
cardiac output remains the same. Suggest an explanation for this.
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(d)

During exercise the rate of blood flow to heart muscle increases from 270 cm3 per minute
to 750 cm3 per minute.
(i)

Calculate the percentage increase in rate of blood flow to heart muscle during
exercise. Show your working.

Answer ............................... %
(2)

(ii)

Explain the advantage of the increase in the rate of blood flow to heart muscle
during exercise.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

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