Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract

Q1.     Describe the roles of calcium ions and ATP in the contraction of a myofibril.
(5)

Q2.     Explain how the heart muscle and the heart valves maintain a one-way flow of
blood from the left atrium to the aorta.
(5)

Q3.         The cardiac cycle is controlled by the sinoatrial node (SAN) and the atrioventricular
node (AVN).

Describe how.
(Total 5 marks)

Q4.Three processes are involved in the formation of urine in a mammalian kidney. These are
ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption and concentration.

    Describe how ultrafiltration produces glomerular filtrate.

(5)

Q5.    

    Some people who have diabetes do not secrete insulin. Explain how a lack of insulin
affects reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys of a person who does not secrete
insulin.
(4)

Q6    

    Some desert mammals have long loops of Henle and secrete large amounts of
antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Explain how these two features are adaptations to living
in desert conditions.
(6)

Q7.     Humans can produce urine which is more concentrated than their blood plasma.

      Explain the role of the loop of Henle in the absorption of water from the filtrate.
(6)

Page 1
 Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract
Q8.    

     Explain the role of ADH in the production of concentrated urine.

(4)

Q9.              A woman takes moderate exercise. Explain what causes her heart rate to increase
while she exercises.
(6)

Q10.              Adrenaline binds to receptors in the plasma membranes of liver cells. Explain how
this causes the blood glucose concentration to increase.    (2)

Q11.              Explain how a rise in blood pressure results in a decrease in the rate of heartbeat.
(6)

12 Describe the events that take place in a neurone which produce an action potential.
(6)

Q13.    

Explain what is meant by the tertiary structure of a protein and describe the importance of
this in transmission across a synapse.
(5)

14. Describe the process of transmission across a neuromuscular junction.

(7)

Q15.    

Explain how transmission of information in the nervous system may be modified by

summation.
(2)

16. Describe the sequence of events which leads to the transmission of an impulse at a cholinergic
synapse.
(6)

Q17.    

The diagram shows axons from two presynaptic neurones, A and B, and the synapse they
form with postsynaptic neurone, C.

Page 2
 Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract

P resy n ap tic
n eu ro n e A

P o stsyn a p tic n eu ro n e C

P resy n ap tic
n eu ro n e B

The table shows the results of four experiments to determine the effects of action potentials
in neurones A and B on neurone C.

Experiment Action potentials in presynaptic neurone(s) Effect on neurone

C
1 Single action potential in A No action potential
2 Single action potential in B No action potential
3 Simultaneous action potentials in A and B Action potential
4 Two action potentials in A in rapid Action potential
succession

Explain why an action potential was produced in C in experiments 3 and 4, but not in
experiments 1 and 2.

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

(6)

18              Explain how insulin lowers the concentration of blood glucose.

Q19.    

    Describe the role of the hormone glucagon in the control of blood sugar concentration.

Page 3
 Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract

Q20.

           Labelled antibodies and an electron microscope can be used to produce images locating
proteins on the surface of organelles, but cannot be used to observe cross bridge
cycling in muscle cells. Explain why.

___________________________________________________________________
(5)

Q21

    Explain how the loop of Henle maintains the gradient of ions which allows water to be
reabsorbed from filtrate in the collecting duct.

___________________________________________________________________
(5)

Q22
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter released in some synapses in the brain. The box transmission of dopamine is
similar to that of acetylcholine. Dopamine stimulates the production of nerve impulses in postsynaptic
neurones.      Describe how    [3]

Q23
GABA is a neurotransmitter released in some inhibitory synapses in the brain. GABA box causes negatively
charged chloride ions to enter postsynaptic neurones.    Explain how this inhibits postsynaptic neurones [3]

Q24
Explain how a decrease in the concentration of calcium ions within muscle tissues
could cause a decrease in the force of muscle contraction.

Q25
Explain how inhibiting adenylate cyclase may help to lower the blood glucose
concentration

Q26
Explain how damage to the myelin sheath of neurones can cause muscular paralysis

Page 4
 Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract

M1.    
1.        Calcium ions diffuse into myofibrils from (sarcoplasmic) reticulum;
2.      (Calcium ions) cause movement of tropomyosin (on actin);
3.      (This movement causes) exposure of the binding sites on the actin;
4.      Myosin heads attach to binding sites on actin, forming an actinomyosin cross bridge;
5.      Loss of ADP (on myosin heads) causes myosin heads to bend;
6            (Bending) pulling actin molecules, allows sliding of the actin and myosin filaments;
7.      Attachment of a new ATP molecule to each myosin head causes myosin heads to detach (from
actin sites).
8. (hydrolysis of) ATP releases energy;
9. which changes the configuration / cocking of the myosin head;

M2

    1.      Atrium has higher pressure than ventricle (due to filling / contraction)

causing atrioventricular valves to open;
Start anywhere in sequence, but events must be in the
correct order.
1. Accept bicuspid, reject tricuspid
1. Allow: blood passes through the valve = valve open /
blood stopped from passing through the valve = valve closed

2.      Ventricle has higher pressure than atrium (due to filling / contraction)

causing atrioventricular valves to close;

3.      Ventricle has higher pressure than aorta causing semilunar valve to

open;
Points 1, 2 and 3 must be comparative: eg higher 3. Allow
aortic valve

4.      Higher pressure in aorta than ventricle (as heart relaxes) causing

semilunar valve to close;
4. Allow aortic valve

5.      (Muscle / atrial / ventricular) contraction causes increase in pressure;

5

M3.         1.      SAN initiates heartbeat / acts as a pacemaker / myogenic;

2.      (SAN) sends wave of electrical activity / impulses (across atria) causing atrial
contraction;

3.      AVN delays (electrical activity / impulses);

Neutral: reference to non-conducting tissue delaying
impulses instead of the AVN

4.      (Allowing) atria to empty before ventricles contract / ventricles to fill before they
Page 5
 Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract
contract;

5.      (AVN) sends wave of electrical activity / impulses down Bundle of His /
Purkyne fibres;

6.      (Causing) ventricles to contract (from base up) / ventricular systole;

5 max

M4

1.     High Blood pressure / hydrostatic pressure;

2.     Two named small substances pass out e.g. water, glucose, ions, urea
3. (Through small) gaps/pores/fenestrations in (capillary) endothelium;
4. (And) through (capillary) basement membrane (which acts as a filter);
5. Protein too large to go through / large so stays behind;
6. Through gaps in podocytes;
5

M5

    1.      High concentration of glucose in blood;

2.      High concentration in tubule / in filtrate;
3.      Reabsorbed by facilitated diffusion / active transport;
4.      Requires proteins / carriers;
5.      These are working at maximum rate / are saturated;
6.      Not all glucose is reabsorbed / some is lost in urine;
4 max

M6

    For general principle, applied to either example:

1.      More water (from filtrate) reabsorbed / returned to blood / less lost in

urine;
2.      By osmosis;
3.      From collecting duct / from end of second convoluted tubule;
4.      Due to longer loop of Henle;

For loop of Henle, maximum 2 marks:

5.      Sodium / chloride ions absorbed from filtrate in ascending limb;

6.      Gradient established in medulla / concentration of ions increases down
medulla;

For ADH, maximum 2 marks:

7.      Acts on collecting duct / distal convoluted tubule / second convoluted

tubule;
8.      Makes cells more permeable / inserts aquaporins in plasma membranes;

Note: to score full marks, candidates must make one specific statement about

Page 6
 Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract
Loop of Henle and one about ADH.
6 max

M7. 1.      In the ascending limb sodium(ions) actively removed;

2.      Ascending limb impermeable to water;
3.      In descending limb sodium(ions) diffuse in;
4.      Descending limb water moves out / permeable to water;
5.      Low water potential / high concentration of ions in the medulla /
tissue fluid;
6.      The longer the loop / the deeper into medulla, the lower the water
potential in medulla / tissue fluid;
7.      Water leaves collecting duct / DCT;
8.      By osmosis / down water potential gradient;
(credit once only)
6 max

M8

     1.      When water potential of the blood too low;

2.      Detected by receptors in the hypothalamus;
3.      Pituitary secretes / releases (more) ADH;
4.      ADH increases the permeability / recruitment of aquaporins /
opens channels for water in the DCT / collecting duct;
5.      More water is reabsorbed / leaves the nephron moves into the
blood;
6.      By osmosis down the water potential gradient;
7.    smaller volume of urine produced
8.    more concentrated urine produced
4 max

M9.             1.      rate of respiration increases (in muscle cells);

2.      carbon dioxide concentration increases / pH falls / H+ increases / acidity
increases;
3.      chemoreceptors in aortic / carotid bodies / medulla (accept reference to
aorta / carotid arteries not sinus);
4.      (impulses to) medulla / cardioaccelerator centre;
5.      increased frequency of impulses/more impulses (award only once);
6.      along sympathetic pathway to sinoatrial node / SAN (not pacemaker);
7.        more noradrenaline released to SAN
8.        SAN sends out more impulses across the atria
6

Page 7
 Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract

M10.              1.      Adenylate cyclase activated / cAMP produced / second messenger

produced;

2.      Activates enzyme(s) (in cell so) glycogenolysis / gluconeogenesis occurs

/ glycogenesis inhibited;
2. Neutral: ‘glucose produced’ as given in the question stem
      Accept: correct descriptions of these terms
2

M11.              1. pressure receptors / baroreceptors / stretch receptors in aorta / carotid arteries /
carotid sinus; (reject carotid body)
2. send impulses to cardiovascular centre / medulla / cardio-inhibitory centre;
(reject signals / messages / electronic)
3. impulses via parasympathetic nerves / vagus; (accept inhibitory nerve)
4. to SAN;
5. release of ACh / inhibits SAN / decreases impulses from SAN;
6. decreases impulses to AVN / decreased stimulation of AVN / decreases impulses
from AVN;
(any reference to signals / messages / electronic disqualifies
points 3 and 5 only)
6

  12. 1      Stimulus to threshold / critical firing level;

2      Sodium channels/gates open;
3      Sodium ions enter;
4      Down electrical/chemical gradient;
5      Positive feedback;
6      Depolarisation;
7      Inside becomes positive / membrane potential reverses;
8      Potassium channels/gates open;
9      Potassium ions leave;
10 Down electrical/chemical gradient
          [Note: only credit if not awarded earlier in point 4]
11 Repolarisation;

Page 8
 Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract
12 Sodium channels/gates close;
13 Undershoot / hyperpolarisation;
14 Sodium-potassium pump restores resting potential; max 6

M13.

1 Polypeptide (chain) folds;

2 Named bond; [Reject: peptide bond]
3 Between R groups;
4 Receptors/binding sites are proteins;
5 Reference to neurotransmitter shape;
6 Acetylcholinesterase/breakdown enzyme, is protein;
7 Carrier/channel protein;
8 Protein has a shape;
9 Idea of complementary/fit/bind/attach to; [Note: in correct context] max 5
      [Ignore: ‘lock and key’]
[15]

14. Nerve impulse depolarises the presynaptic membrane;

calcium channels opened;
calcium ions enter the presynaptic membrane;
synaptic vesicles move towards/fuse with, the presynaptic membrane;
release of transmitter substance/ACh/noradrenaline into synaptic cleft;
diffusion of ACh/transmitter substance across cleft;
attachment to receptor sites/protein molecules on post synaptic membrane;
(ion gated) sodium channels opened;
sodium ion influx;
causing depolarisation of post synaptic membrane/sarcolemma; max 7

M15

Summation =
addition of a number of impulses converging on a single post synaptic
neurone;
allows integration of stimuli from a variety of sources (spatial
summation);
allows weak background stimuli to be filtered out before reaching
the brain (temporal summation) max 2
[12]

16 calcium ions move into synaptic knobs / presynaptic membrane;

causing synaptic vesicles to move;

towards presynaptic membrane;

Page 9
 Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract
where they release acetylcholine into gap;

transmitter/acetylcholine diffuses across gap;

binds onto receptor / protein molecules;

on postsynaptic membrane;

causing depolarisation / opening of sodium gates / action potential in

postsynaptic cell membrane; max 6

M17

postsynaptic neurone has ‘high’ threshold;

simultaneous arrival of impulses from two presynaptic neurones produces sufficient

transmitter substance;

to cause depolarisation / action potential in postsynaptic neurone /reach threshold (once

only);

this is spatial summation;

impulses in rapid succession from one presynaptic neurone produce

sufficient transmitter substance;

to cause depolarisation / action potential in postsynaptic neurone /

reach threshold (once only);

this is temporal summation;

insufficient transmitter substance produced in A / B;

to cause depolarisation / action potential in postsynaptic neurone /

reach threshold (once only); max 6

18 Binds to receptor on target/liver/muscle cell;

Reject reference to insulin as an enzyme

Causes more transport/carrier proteins to become active/

move to (plasma) membrane;

Glucose (diffuses) into cells (and lowers blood glucose);

(Enzymes in cells) convert glucose to glycogen;

Page 10
 Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract
Stimulates fatty acids/lipid/fat formation (from glucose);

Raises rate of respiration (in cells), using more glucose;

M19

Binds to (specific) receptor;

On muscle / liver cell;
Adenylate cyclase activated and cAMP produced
Activation of protein kinase enzymes (in liver);
Hydrolysis of glycogen/ glycogenolysis;
Glycerol and amino acids converted to glucose
(Facilitated) diffusion of glucose out of (liver cells) cells;
Increases blood glucose levels;

Q20.
     1. Electron microscope gives high resolution due to short wavelength of electrons;
2. antibodies attach specifically to target proteins;
3. gold particles are electron dense;
4. electrons must pass through a vacuum so material must be dead / fixed for e.m.;
5. cross-bridge cycling requires living cells / metabolism / named aspect-e.g. ATP
synthesis;
5

Q21.
    (epithelial cell) of tubule cells carry out active transport;
transport chloride / sodium ions out (of filtrate);
against concentration gradient;
into surrounding tissue / tissue fluid;
creates / maintains water potential gradient for water reabsorption;
countercurrent multiplier;
5 max

22.
1. (Dopamine) diffuses across (synapse);
2. Attaches to receptors on postsynaptic membrane;
3. Stimulates entry of sodium ions and depolarisation/action potential;

23.
1. (Inside of postsynaptic) neurone becomes more negative/hyperpolarisation/inhibitory postsynaptic
potential;
Page 11
 Unit 6 Long Answer Questions New College Pontefract
2. More sodium ions required (to reach threshold) OR Not enough sodium ions enter (to reach threshold);
3. For depolarisation/action potential;

24 –
1. (Less/No) tropomyosin moved from binding site
OR
    Shape of tropomyosin not changed so binding site not exposed/available;
2. (Fewer/No) actinomyosin bridges formed / actin and myosin do not bind
3. Myosin head does not move
OR
      Myosin does not pull actin (filaments)
OR
      (Less/No) ATP (hydrol)ase (activation);

25
1. Less/no ATP is converted to cyclic AMP/cAMP;
2. Less/no kinase is activated;
3. Less/no glycogen is converted to glucose OR    Less/no glycogenolysis;

26
1. Less saltatory conduction
OR
(Nerve) impulses/depolarisation/ions pass to other neurones
OR
Depolarisation occurs along whole length (of axon);
2. (Nerve) impulses slowed/stopped;
3. (Nerve) impulses take longer to reach the neuromuscular junction

Page 12