GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Low Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 1

The list gives some structures in the blood and circulatory system.

heart artery red blood cell ventricle capillary plasma vein white blood cell platelets

(a) Which of these structures

(i) can destroy bacteria?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

om
(ii) carries carbon dioxide?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) pumps blood around the body?

e.c
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) carries blood to organs?

ctiv
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(v) carries blood from organs?

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(vi) carries oxygen?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
he

(b) Name the type of blood vessel which has valves.

w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ww

TOTAL / 7
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Low Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 2

The diagram shows a plan of part of the circulation

Lungs
Lungs

A B

Heart
Heart

om
X

C
D

e.c
Body
Body organs
organs
ctiv
(a) Name the type of blood vessel labelled

(i) C.
ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) D.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
he

(b) In which direction does blood in vessel A travel?

w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Which of the four blood vessels contains most oxygen?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ww

(d) What happens to the amount of oxygen in the blood as it passes through the body organs?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(e) What is the chamber of the heart labelled X?

Choose your answer from the list

right ventricle left atrium left ventricle right atrium

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 6
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Low Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 3

The bar chart shows the pulse rates of two people immediately after four types of activity.

140

130

120

110
(beats/minute)
pulse rate

Person 1
100
Person 2
90

om
80

70

60

e.c
50
A B C D
activity
(a) What was the pulse rate
ctiv
(i) of person 1 after activity A?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ma

(ii) of person 2 after activity C?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
he

(b) During which activity was there the greatest difference in the pulse rate of the two people?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
w.c

(c) The four activities were walking. standing, running and sitting down. Match these activities to
the letters A, B, C and D on the bar chart.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
ww

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [4]

(d) Why does the pulse rate increase during exercise?

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL / 10
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Low Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 4

Three students measured their pulse rates before a game of squash. They measured their pulse rates again after
the game every minute for 5 minutes. The table shows their results.

Pulse rate /beats per minute

Student A Student B Student C
Before exercise 72 65 75
1 minute after 170 144 178
2 minutes after 142 115 132
3 minutes after 96 70 105
4 minutes after 82 65 92

om
5 minutes after 75 65 84

(a) Which student had the highest pulse rate after the game of squash?

e.c
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b)(i) What is meant by recovery time?

ctiv
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) How long was student B's recovery time?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ma

(c)(i) Which of the three students was the fittest?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
he

(ii) Give two reasons for your answer.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(d) Which of the three students would take longest to recover from the game of squash?
ww

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 7
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Medium Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 5

(a) Why does the body need oxygen?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) The diagram shows the passage of oxygen around the body.

Oxygen

om
C

A blood flow

e.c
ctiv
blood flow
ma

B D
he
w.c

(i) Which organ does A represent?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) What happens to oxygen in organ A?
ww

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) Name the cells labelled C.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iv) What do the cells labelled C do?

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(Continued...)
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

QUESTIONSHEET 5 CONTINUED

(v) B represents the organs of the body. What happens to the oxygen in the blood in the body organs?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(vi) By what process does oxygen leave the blood?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(vii) Name the type of blood vessel which connects the blood vessels labelled D and E.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

om
e.c
ctiv
ma
he
w.c
ww

TOTAL / 9
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Medium Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 6

The table gives a list of statements concerned with arteries, veins and capillaries. Tick (√) the correct box to
indicate which statement applies to which type of blood vessel.

Statement Arteries Veins Capillaries

Carry blood at high pressure
Usually carry blood with a high oxygen concentration
Allow substances to pass through their walls into cells
Have valves
Carry blood away from organs

om
Have walls which are one cell thick
Are in close contact with cells of the body
Have a thick muscular wall
Pick up oxygen from the alveoli in the lungs

e.c
Usually carry blood rich in carbon dioxide to the heart
Supply the heart muscle with oxygen
ctiv
ma
he
w.c
ww

TOTAL / 11
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Medium Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 7

The diagram shows a capillary in a tissue.

blood flow
blood flow

body cells

X
B Y

om
e.c
A

ctiv
capillary

(a) Name a gas moving in the direction shown by arrow A.

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) What do the cells use this gas for?

he

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Name two substances moving in the direction shown by arrow B.

w.c

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
ww

(d) State two properties of capillary walls which allow substances to pass through them easily.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(e) Name the types of blood vessel labelled

(i) X............................................................................................................................................................ [1]

(ii) Y............................................................................................................................................................ [1]

(f) Which of the three blood vessels X, Y or the capillary carries blood at the highest pressure?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 9
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Medium Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 8

The diagram shows a plan of part of the blood circulation.

Lungs
8 1

Heart

7 2

Liver

om
3
4
6
Intestines
5

e.c
(a) Which of the blood vessels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, ctiv
(i) supplies blood to the lungs?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) supplies blood to the liver?

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) takes blood into the heart from the lungs?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
he

(iv) has the highest concentration of oxygen?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
w.c

(v) is the vena cava?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ww

(vi) takes blood away from the intestines?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(vii) has the lowest concentration of carbon dioxide?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(viii) is an artery containing deoxygenated blood?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) State two ways in which the blood in vessel 4 differs from the blood in vessel 6.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 10
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Medium Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 9

The diagram shows a sample of blood.

A
B
C
D

om
(a) Name the cells labelled A, C and D.

A. .......................................................................................................................................................... [1]

e.c
C. .......................................................................................................................................................... [1]

D. .......................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ctiv
(b) Which of the structures

(i) represents the plasma?

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) can ingest bacteria?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
he

(iii) carries glucose?

w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) contains haemoglobin?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ww

(v) is involved in blood clotting?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 8
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Medium Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 10

The diagram shows a vertical section of the heart.

om
(a) Name the blood vessels labelled A, B and C.
e.c
ctiv
A. .......................................................................................................................................................... [1]

B. .......................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ma

C. .......................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Match one of the letters from the diagram with each of the following:

(i) a chamber which pumps blood to the body organs.

he

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
w.c

(ii) a blood vessel which carries blood to the lungs.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) a valve which prevents blood flowing back into the left atrium.
ww

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) a chamber which pumps blood to the lungs.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(v) tendons which support the valves.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) Describe the relative oxygen content of the blood at points X and Y on the diagram.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 10
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Medium Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 11

The diagram below represents cross-sectional areas through an artery, a vein and a capillary.

A B C
(a) Arteries take blood away from the heart.

(i) Which letter represents an artery?

om
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Explain how arteries are adapted for their function.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

e.c
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) (i) What is the function of the veins?

ctiv
......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Which diagram represents a vein?

ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) (i) What is the name of the vessels that carry blood to every cell in the body?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
he

(ii) Explain why it is important to take blood to every cell.

w.c

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
ww

(iii) How are the walls of these blood vessels adapted for their function?

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(d) (i) Which of the three blood vessels, A, B, or C has valves?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) What is the function of valves?

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
TOTAL / 14
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

Medium Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 12

The heart has its own supply of blood vessels called coronary arteries, and veins. Sometimes a coronary artery
gets blocked with fatty deposits. This can lead to a heart attack. In this country one in five is likely to have
symptoms of coronary heart disease before the age of 65.

om
e.c
(a)(i) What type of tissue is the heart mainly made up of?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ctiv
(ii) What is the function of this tissue?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ma

(iii) The coronary artery carries oxygen and glucose to the heart.
What does the tissue need these for?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
he

(b) (i) What will happen to the blood supply to the heart if the coronary arteries get blocked.
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) What will be the effect on the heart if the coronary arteries are blocked.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
ww

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

(c) The man in the picture above has coronary heart disease. Suggest three pieces of advice you could
give him to help prevent the risk of an heart attack.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL / 10
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

High Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 13

The diagram shows a plan of part of the blood circulation.

Lungs
8 1

Heart

7 2

Liver

om
3
4
6
Intestines
5

(a) As blood travels around the body it picks up substances from various organs.
e.c
ctiv
Name one substance the blood picks up from

(i) the small intestine.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ma

(ii) the large intestine.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
he

(iii) adrenal glands.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
w.c

(iv) the lungs.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ww

(b) Mammals have a double circulatory system.

Explain what this means.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(Continued...)
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

QUESTIONSHEET 13 CONTINUED

(c) Complete the following table to show whether the blood vessels 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 contain
oxygenated or deoxygenated blood. Place a tick (4) in the appropriate box.
The first one has been completed as an example. [4]

Blood Deoxygenated
Oxygenated blood
vessel blood
1 4
3
4

om
6
7

e.c
(d) Use the numbers and the name of the organs from the diagram to complete the following
sequence showing the path of blood from the liver to the lungs. [4]

liver lungs
ctiv
ma
he
w.c
ww

TOTAL / 14
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

High Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 14

The graph shows the effect of changes in the heart rate on the volume of blood pumped by the left ventricle.

5.5

5
/dm3 per minute
volume of blood

om
4.5

e.c
3.5

3
70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120
ctiv
heart rate /beats per minute

(a) What was the volume of blood pumped by the left ventricle when the heart rate was
80 beats per minute?
ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) By how much did the volume of blood pumped by the left ventricle increase when the
he

heart rate increased from 70 to 85 beats per minute?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
w.c

(c) Calculate the volume of blood pumped out at each heart beat when the heart rate was
100 beats per minute.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
ww

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(d) Use the graph to estimate the volume of blood pumped when the heart rate is 120
beats per minute.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(e) Describe how the volume of blood pumped by the left ventricle changes as the
heart rate increases.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL / 8
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

High Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 15

The diagram shows an external view of the heart.

2 to lungs

A
1
from body organs 3
to body organs
B
C

om
X

e.c
(a) Name the structures labelled A, B, C and D;

A. .......................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ctiv
B. .......................................................................................................................................................... [1]

C. .......................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ma

D. .......................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) The arrows on the diagram show the direction of blood flow into and out of the heart.
List the structures, in the correct sequence, through which the blood passes in moving
from 1 to 2.
he

..............................................................................................................................................................................
w.c

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [4]
ww

(c) Give one difference between the blood entering at 1 and leaving at 3.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(d)(i) What is the name of the blood vessels labelled X.

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) What is the function of these blood vessels?

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 12
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

High Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 16

The bar chart shows the number of red blood cells present in the blood of people living at different
altitudes above sea level.

10

8
number of red blood cells
/millions per mm3 blood

om
4

e.c
2

0
ctiv
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
height above sea level /metres

(a) What is the function of red blood cells?

ma

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
he

3
(b) How many red blood cells are present in a mm of blood of

(i) someone living at sea level?

w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) someone living at 5000 metres above sea level?

ww

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) As altitude increases the amount of oxygen in the air decreases.

(i) What is the relationship between the number of red blood cells and the height above sea level
at which people live?

........................................................................................................................................................................ [1]

(ii) Explain the advantage of this change in the blood to people living at high altitudes.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 7
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

High Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 17

(a) The table shows the time taken for the blood to clot at different temperatures.

Temperature Time for blood to clot

/o C /minutes
5 1.6
15 1.2
25 0.8
35 0.5
45 1.8
55 Did not clot

om
(a) Plot a line graph of these figures on the grid below. [3]
2

e.c
1.5
time for blood to clot

ctiv
/minutes

1
ma

0.5

0
he

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55
temperature /0C

(b) How much longer does it take for the blood to clot at 15oC compared to 35 oC?
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c) At which temperature does the blood clot fastest?
ww

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(d) Describe the relationship between temperature and the time taken for the blood to clot.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [4]
(e) Suggest why the blood did not clot at 55oC.
..............................................................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

TOTAL / 11
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

High Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 18

(a) The diagram shows some of the major functions of the blood.

BLOOD

Transport of Prevention of Temperature

om
Blood clotting
substances infection regulation

e.c
platelets plasma red cells
ctiv phagocytes lymphocytes

(i) Name two substances carried by the plasma.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
ma

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) How is oxygen carried in the red cells?

he

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) How does blood clotting protect against disease?

w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(iv) What is the role of phagocytes in preventing infection?

ww

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(v) What is the function of lymphocytes?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Where are red cells produced?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

TOTAL / 7
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

High Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 19

(a) As blood passes around the body substances enter and leave the blood.

Complete the following table to show where the four substances enter and leave the blood.
Place a tick (3) in the box to show in which part of the body a substance enters the blood
and a (x) to show where the substance leaves the blood.
The first one has been completed as an example. [6]

Part of the body

Substance Liver Kidney Lungs Cells Intestines
Oxygen 3 X
Carbon dioxide

om
Glucose
Urea

e.c
(b) Give three differences between the structure of arteries and veins.

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................
ctiv
......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
ma
he
w.c
ww

TOTAL / 9
GCSE BIOLOGY CIRCULATION

High Demand Questions QUESTIONSHEET 20

The bar chart shows the volume of blood flowing through various organs, at rest and during vigorous exercise

10000
At rest
9000 Exercise
8000

7000
/cm3 per minute

6000
blood flow

5000

om
4000

3000

2000

e.c
1000

0 Skin Brain Muscles Kidney Coronary

Skin Muscles arteries
Coronary arteries
organ
ctiv
(a) In which body organ does the blood flow decrease during exercise?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
ma

(b) In which body organ does the blood flow remain constant?

......................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) The total blood flow through all the organs during exercise is 13 900 cm 3 per minute.
he

Calculate the percentage of the total blood flow which goes through the muscles.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
w.c

......................................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(d) Explain why the blood flow to the muscles increases during exercise.

..............................................................................................................................................................................
ww

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [4]

(e) Why does the blood flow to the skin increase during exercise?

..............................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................................................... [3]

TOTAL / 11