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2.11 Blood vessels

6 exam questions worth 12 marks. Write your answer, open the mark scheme, then give yourself the marks you earned. Your answers are saved on this device.

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1
Multiple choice [1 mark]

Which blood vessel has walls only one cell thick?

Choose one answer.

Correct Not quite: the answer is Capillary

Mark scheme

C: capillary

Model answer

C: capillary. Its thin wall gives a short diffusion distance.

2
Short answer [2 marks]

Explain why arteries have thick walls containing muscle and elastic fibres.

Mark scheme

  • blood in arteries is at high pressure (1)
  • (thick walls) withstand the pressure / elastic fibres stretch and recoil (1)

Model answer

Blood leaving the heart is at high pressure. The thick walls withstand this pressure, and the elastic fibres stretch with each beat and then recoil.

Your mark
3
Short answer [2 marks]

Explain why veins have valves.

Mark scheme

  • blood in veins is at low pressure (1)
  • valves stop blood flowing backwards / keep blood flowing to the heart (1)

Model answer

Blood in veins is at low pressure, so it could flow backwards. Valves close to prevent backflow and keep the blood flowing towards the heart.

Your mark
4
Short answer [3 marks]

Explain how capillaries are adapted for the exchange of substances with body cells.

Mark scheme

  • walls one cell thick (1)
  • short diffusion distance (1)
  • large number / network so large surface area / close to every cell (1)
  • narrow so blood flows slowly / red cells close to wall (1)

Maximum 3 marks

Model answer

Capillary walls are only one cell thick, so the diffusion distance is short. There are huge numbers of capillaries, which gives a large surface area and means every cell is close to one.

Your mark
5
Calculation [2 marks]

1500 cm3 of blood passed through a vein in 5 minutes.

Calculate the rate of blood flow in cm3 per minute.

Mark scheme

  • 1500 ÷ 5 (1)
  • = 300 (cm3 per minute) (1)

Model answer

rate = 1500 ÷ 5 = 300 cm3 per minute.

Your mark
6
Short answer [2 marks]

A vessel has a thin wall, a large lumen and valves.

Name the type of vessel and say whether it carries blood towards or away from the heart.

Mark scheme

  • vein (1)
  • towards the heart (1)

Model answer

It is a vein, which carries blood towards the heart.

Your mark
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