OpenRevise

Exam questions · Biology · The Circulatory System

Blood Vessels

  • 7 exam questions
  • 18 marks
  • 8 quick checks
  1. 1 State [1 mark]

    Name the type of blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    Artery.

    Mark scheme

    • Artery — 1 mark
  2. 2 Name [3 marks]

    Figure 1 shows three types of blood vessel. Name the parts labelled A, B and C.

    Three blood vessels with parts marked A, B and C.
    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    A is the (muscular) wall of the artery. B is a valve. C is the wall of the capillary.

    Mark scheme

    • A: wall of the artery / muscle and elastic fibres — 1 mark
    • B: valve — 1 mark
    • C: wall of the capillary — 1 mark
  3. 3 Explain [2 marks]

    Explain why veins have valves.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    The blood in veins is at low pressure, so it could flow backwards. The valves close to stop this happening, so the blood flows only towards the heart.

    Mark scheme

    • Blood at low pressure could flow backwards — 1 mark
    • Valves prevent backflow — 1 mark
  4. 4 Explain [3 marks]

    Explain how the structure of an artery is related to its function.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    An artery carries blood away from the heart at high pressure. Its wall is thick, with muscle and elastic fibres, so that it can withstand the pressure. The elastic fibres let the wall stretch and recoil as blood surges through.

    Mark scheme

    • Carries blood at high pressure — 1 mark
    • Thick wall with muscle and elastic fibres — 1 mark
    • Withstands the pressure / stretches and recoils — 1 mark
  5. 5 Explain [3 marks]

    Explain how a capillary is adapted for exchanging substances with the cells.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    The wall of a capillary is only one cell thick, so the diffusion path is short. Capillaries form huge networks, which give a large surface area. The blood moves slowly through them, which gives time for substances to diffuse.

    Mark scheme

    • Wall one cell thick / short diffusion path — 1 mark
    • Large surface area from many capillaries — 1 mark
    • Slow flow gives time for diffusion — 1 mark
  6. 6 Calculate [2 marks]

    A volume of 450 cm³ of blood flows through a blood vessel in 90 seconds. Calculate the rate of blood flow in cm³ per second.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    Rate = volume ÷ time = 450 ÷ 90 = 5 cm³ per second.

    Mark scheme

    • 450 ÷ 90 — 1 mark
    • 5 cm³ per second — 1 mark
  7. 7 Compare [4 marks]

    Compare the structure of an artery with the structure of a vein.

    Show answerHide answer

    Model answer

    The wall of an artery is thick, with muscle and elastic fibres, but the wall of a vein is thinner. An artery has a narrow lumen but a vein has a wider lumen. Veins have valves but arteries do not. Arteries carry blood at high pressure away from the heart, but veins carry blood at low pressure to the heart.

    Mark scheme

    • Artery wall thicker than vein wall — 1 mark
    • Artery lumen narrower than vein lumen — 1 mark
    • Veins have valves, arteries do not — 1 mark
    • Artery high pressure away from the heart, vein low pressure towards it — 1 mark

Quick check

  1. 1

    Which blood vessel has valves?

    1. AArtery
    2. BVein
    3. CCapillary
    4. DAorta
    Show answerHide answer

    B: Vein

    Veins have valves to stop the low-pressure blood flowing backwards.

  2. 2

    Why is the wall of a capillary only one cell thick?

    1. ATo carry blood at high pressure
    2. BTo stop blood flowing backwards
    3. CTo give a short diffusion path
    4. DTo store blood
    Show answerHide answer

    C: To give a short diffusion path

    A thin wall gives a short diffusion path, so substances move across quickly.

  3. 3

    What do arteries carry?

    1. ABlood away from the heart
    2. BBlood to the heart
    3. CBlood to the lungs only
    4. DBlood from the lungs only
    Show answerHide answer

    A: Blood away from the heart

    Arteries carry blood away from the heart, and this blood is at high pressure.

  4. 4

    Which blood vessel carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart?

    1. AAorta
    2. BVena cava
    3. CPulmonary vein
    4. DPulmonary artery
    Show answerHide answer

    D: Pulmonary artery

    The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.

  5. 5

    What gives artery walls the ability to stretch and recoil?

    1. AValves
    2. BElastic fibres
    3. CPlatelets
    4. DRed blood cells
    Show answerHide answer

    B: Elastic fibres

    Elastic fibres in the wall let it stretch with each surge of blood and then recoil.

  6. 6

    900 cm³ of blood flows through a vessel in 3 minutes. What is the rate of blood flow?

    1. A3 cm³ per minute
    2. B30 cm³ per minute
    3. C300 cm³ per minute
    4. D2700 cm³ per minute
    Show answerHide answer

    C: 300 cm³ per minute

    Rate = volume ÷ time = 900 ÷ 3 = 300 cm³ per minute.

  7. 7

    Why does blood flow slowly through capillaries?

    1. ATo give time for exchange
    2. BTo keep the pressure high
    3. CTo stop it clotting
    4. DTo make it cooler
    Show answerHide answer

    A: To give time for exchange

    Slow flow gives more time for substances to diffuse between the blood and the cells.

  8. 8

    Which statement about veins is correct?

    1. AThey have thick walls with a narrow lumen
    2. BThey carry blood at high pressure
    3. CTheir walls are one cell thick
    4. DThey have a wide lumen and valves
    Show answerHide answer

    D: They have a wide lumen and valves

    Veins return blood to the heart at low pressure, so they have a wide lumen and valves.