Q1.

The diagram shows two relaxed sarcomeres from skeletal muscle.

(a) When the sarcomeres contract, what happens to the length of

(i) the I-band

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) the A-band?

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) The length of each sarcomere in the diagram is 2.2 μm. Use this information to
calculate the magnification of the diagram. Show your working.

Magnification ____________________
(2)

(c) People who have McArdle’s disease produce less ATP than healthy people. As a
result, they are not able to maintain strong muscle contraction during exercise. Use
your knowledge of the sliding filament theory to suggest why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 1 of 20
 (3)
(Total 7 marks)

Q2.

Body Pulse rate / beats per minute

position Reading 1 Reading 2 Reading 3 Mean

Sitting 80 76 76 77

Standing 84 88 92 88

Lying down 68 72 68 69

(a) Using the results in the table above, calculate the percentage decrease in mean
pulse rate when lying down compared with when standing.

Answer = ______________________________________ %
(2)

(b) When the heart beats, both ventricles contract at the same time.
Explain how this is coordinated in the heart after initiation of the heartbeat by the
SAN.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

Q3.
(a) The following statements are about events during an action potential.

A Potassium ions diffuse out across the neurone membrane.

B Sodium ions diffuse in across the neurone membrane.
C Sodium ion channels open.
D Active transport of sodium and potassium ions restores resting potential.
E Potassium ion channels open.
F Hyperpolarisation of the membrane occurs.

Page 2 of 20
 (i) Which of the events, A to F, starts depolarisation?
Put the correct letter in the box.

(1)

(ii) Which of the events, A to F, requires the hydrolysis of ATP?

Put the correct letter in the box.

(1)

(b) Synaptophysin is a protein involved in the production of synaptic vesicles.

Scientists can use the presence or absence of synaptophysin to identify presynaptic

and postsynaptic membranes in synapses.

Explain why they are able to use synaptophysin for this purpose.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. Production of too much dopamine is associated

with schizophrenia. A drug used to treat schizophrenia binds to dopamine receptors
in synapses. This binding does not lead to the formation of an action potential.

(i) Suggest why the drug used to treat schizophrenia is able to bind to the same
receptor as dopamine.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) Suggest why binding of the drug does not lead to production of an action
potential.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

Q4.
The blink reflex involves synapses. Below is a diagram of a synapse.

Page 3 of 20
 Identify A, B and C.

A ____________________________

B ____________________________

C ____________________________
(Total 3 marks)

Q5.
The image below shows a transmission electron micrograph of a longitudinal section of
skeletal muscle.

Page 4 of 20
(a) Name structures C, D and E.

C _________________________________________________________________

D _________________________________________________________________

E _________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b) Give the name of the structure shown between points A and B.

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) Calculate the actual distance between points A and B. Give your answer in
micrometres (µm).

Answer = __________________ µm
(1)

(d) The image shows glycogen granules present in skeletal muscle.

Explain their role in skeletal muscle.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(e) During vigorous exercise, the pH of skeletal muscle tissue falls. This fall in pH leads
to a reduction in the ability of calcium ions to stimulate muscle contraction.

Suggest how.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 5 of 20
 (3)
(Total 10 marks)

Q6.
The diagram below shows a nerve pathway in an animal.

(a) The nerve pathway shown in the diagram may be regarded as a simple reflex arc.

Use the diagram to explain why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) Suggest two advantages of simple reflexes.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) In the nerve pathway in the diagram, synapses ensure that nerve impulses only
travel towards the muscle fibre.

Explain how.

Page 6 of 20
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(d) Axon P was found to conduct impulses much faster than other axons in the nerve
pathway shown in the diagram.

Describe and explain one feature of axon P that might cause this difference.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q7.
Scientists investigated the effect of regular exercise on skeletal muscle fibres in mice. The
scientists compared the muscle fibres of mice after six weeks of regular exercise (trained
mice) with those of mice that had not exercised (control mice). The scientists stained the
muscle fibres from both sets of mice to show succinic acid dehydrogenase activity. The
darker the stain the greater the succinic acid dehydrogenase activity.

The diagram below shows a typical set of results they obtained.

(a) Succinic acid dehydrogenase is an enzyme used in the Krebs cycle.

Suggest one reason for the difference in the staining between the muscle fibres of
the control mice and the trained mice.

Page 7 of 20
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) The scientists then compared the length of time that the control mice and the trained
mice could carry out prolonged exercise. The trained mice were able to exercise for
a longer time period than control mice.

Explain why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(c) The scientists determined the mean diameter of muscle fibres in trained mice using
an optical microscope to examine sections of muscle tissue. The circular area (πr2)
of one field of view was 1.25 mm2. The diameter of this area was equal to the
diameter of 15 muscle fibres.

Using this information, calculate the mean diameter in μm (micrometres) of muscle

fibres in this section of tissue.

Answer ____________________ μm
(2)

(d) The scientists also compared the diameter of samples of muscle fibres taken from
young mice and adult mice.

Some of their results are shown in the graph.

Page 8 of 20
 Describe two differences between these samples of muscle fibres.

1. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q8.
(a) Dopamine is a neurotransmitter released in some synapses in the brain. The
transmission of dopamine is similar to that of acetylcholine.

Dopamine stimulates the production of nerve impulses in postsynaptic neurones.

Describe how.

Do not include in your answer the events leading to the release of dopamine and
the events following production of nerve impulses at postsynaptic neurones.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 9 of 20
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b) Dopamine has a role in numerous processes in the brain including pain relief. The
release of dopamine can be stimulated by chemicals called endorphins produced in
the brain. Endorphins attach to opioid receptors on presynaptic neurones that
release dopamine.

Morphine is a drug that has a similar structure to endorphins and can provide pain
relief.

Explain how.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) GABA is a neurotransmitter released in some inhibitory synapses in the brain.

GABA causes negatively charged chloride ions to enter postsynaptic neurones.

Explain how this inhibits postsynaptic neurones.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 10 of 20
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Q9.
The iris in the human eye is a muscular structure. The iris changes the size of the pupil.

The diagram below shows the muscles in the iris.

(a) Suggest and explain how the interaction between the muscles labelled in the
diagram above could cause the pupil to constrict (narrow).

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) The fovea of the eye of an eagle has a high density of cones. An eagle focuses the
image of its prey onto the fovea.

Explain how the fovea enables an eagle to see its prey in detail.

Do not refer to colour vision in your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Page 11 of 20
 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(c) The retina of the human eye has an area of approximately 1.094 × 103 mm2

The circular fovea in a human eye has a diameter of 3 × 103µm

Calculate the area of the fovea as a percentage of the area of the retina.

The area of a circle is πr2. Use π = 3.14 in your calculation.

Show your working.

Answer _______________ %
(2)

(d) The retina of an owl has a high density of rod cells.

Explain how this enables an owl to hunt its prey at night.

Do not refer to rhodopsin in your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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Page 12 of 20
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 10 marks)

Page 13 of 20
Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) (i) Decreases;
Accept any word that means a decrease e.g. shorter /
narrower / smaller etc
1

(ii) Nothing / stays the same length / does not change;

1

(b) 1. Two marks for correct answer of 29545-30455;

Correct answer = 2 marks outright. Range allows for a 1mm
error in measuring

2. One mark for incorrect answers in which candidate clearly divides

measured width by actual width;
Ignore rounding up
2

(c) (Idea ATP is needed for:)

1. Attachment / cross bridges between actin and myosin;

Accept the role of ADP in attachment

2. ‘Power stroke’ / movement of myosin heads / pulling of actin;

Not just ‘filaments slide’ as given in the question stem

3. Detachment of myosin heads;

4. Myosin heads move back / to original position / ‘recovery stroke’

3 max
[7]

Q2.
(a) 21.59 / 21.6;

19/88 × 100 = 1 mark

Accept for 1 mark - 19/69 × 100 = 27.5%;
(only award if rounding correct)
Max 1 for incorrect rounding
Accept any number of significant figures
as long as the rounding is correct
2

(b) 1. Electrical activity only through Bundle of His / AVN;

2. Wave of electrical activity passes over / through both ventricles at the same
time;
For ‘electrical activity’ accept impulses / depolarisation /
action potential
Reject messages/signals/information once only

Page 14 of 20
 2. Accept ‘wave of electrical activity passes through the
Purkinje / Purkyne fibres / tissue’
2
[4]

Q3.
(a) (i) C;
1

(ii) D;
1

(b) (Synaptic) vesicles (only) found in presynaptic (part of

synapse);
Accept bulb of synapse for presynaptic
Reject vesicles in the membrane
1

(c) (i) Has similar shape/structure to dopamine

OR

Complementary (to binding site on receptor);

Ignore competitive inhibitor
Accept tertiary structure
Reject active site
Reject same shape as dopamine/as receptor
1

(ii) 1. (Binding) does not lead to opening of sodium ion

channels;
2. (So) no depolarisation / threshold not reached /
sodium ions do not diffuse in;

OR

3. Opens chloride ion channels;

4. Causing hyperpolarisation / preventing
depolarisation
Mark either 1 and 2 OR 3 and 4
1. Accept stops dopamine opening sodium ion channels
1. Reject sodium unqualified
2. Accept no generator potential
3. Reject chlorine
2
[6]

Q4.
A Vesicle;

B Neurotransmitter;

C Synaptic cleft;
B Accept named neurotransmitter

Page 15 of 20
 [3]

Q5.
(a) C = M line / M disc / myosin filament

D = mitochondrion

E = myofibril
3

(b) Sarcomere
1

(c) Answer in range 1.14–1.18

1

(d) 1. As a store of glucose

Ignore provide energy
OR

To be hydrolysed to glucose;

2. For respiration / to provide ATP;

2

(e) 1. Low pH changes shape of calcium ion receptors

Do not accept tropomyosin does not move

2. Fewer calcium ions bind to tropomyosin;

Accept troponin

3. Fewer tropomyosin molecules move away;

4. Fewer binding sites on actin revealed;

5. Fewer cross-bridges can form

OR

Fewer myosin heads can bind

Must include idea of fewer at least once
3 max
[10]

Q6.
(a) Only 3 neurones / nerve cells (in reflex arc)
1

(b) 1. Rapid;

2. Protect against damage to body tissues;

3. Do not have to be learnt;

4. Help escape from predators;

Page 16 of 20
 5. Enable homeostatic control.
2 max

(c) 1. Neurotransmitter only made in / stored in / released from pre-synaptic

neurone;

2. (Neuro)receptors only on the post-synaptic membrane;

2

(d) 1. Axon P is myelinated;

2. So shows saltatory conduction / impulses jump between nodes of Ranvier

OR

3. Axon P has a larger diameter;

4. So less resistance to flow of ions.

Mark as 1 & 2 OR 3 & 4
2
[7]

Q7.
(a) Increase in aerobic respiration
OR
Increase in / more mitochondria
OR
Increase in / more slow muscle fibres;
Ignore: reference to Krebs cycle as this in the stem of the
question.
1 max

(b) 1. (More aerobic respiration) produces more ATP;

2. Anaerobic respiration delayed;
3. Less or no lactate;
1. Accept: produces ATP faster.
2. Accept: aerobic respiration can continue.
2. Accept : no anaerobic respiration.
3. Accept: lactic acid.
3

(c) 1. Correct answer in range 84 to 84.2 = 2 marks;

2. For one mark accept incorrect answer but shows r (radius) = 0.63 (mm)
OR
d (diameter) = 1.26 (mm);
2. Ignore: numbers after 0.63 and 1.26.
2

(d) 1. A numerical comparison of range = 2 marks i.e.

Young (fibres) range 14/15 – 47/48 (μm) and adult (fibres) 17/18 –
86/87/88 (μm)
OR
Young (fibres) range 32/33/34 and adult (fibres) range 68/69/70/71;
2. Comparison of range without numbers = one mark i.e.
Adult (fibres) greater range / spread / variation (of diameters)
OR

Page 17 of 20
 Young (fibres) smaller range / spread (of diameters);
3. Comparison of mode = one mark i.e.
Adult (fibres) peak/most common/frequent/mode at 50 (μm) and young
(fibres) peak/most common/frequent/mode at 30 (μm);
1. Accept: one mark for comparison of minimum values
i.e.
14/15 compared to 17/18
Allow one mark for comparison of maximum values i.e.
47/48 compared to 86/87/88.
1. Note: comparison of both maximum and minimum
values = 2 marks.
3. Accept: adult (fibres) peaks at higher diameter or
young (fibres) peak / most frequent at lower diameter.
3. Reject: reference to mean / average.
2 max
[8]

Q8.
(a) 1. (Dopamine) diffuses across (synapse);

2. Attaches to receptors on postsynaptic membrane;

Ignore name/nature of receptor e.g. cholinergic

3. Stimulates entry of sodium ions and depolarisation/action potential;

Accept Na+ for sodium ions
Accept generator potential for action potential
3

(b) 1. Morphine attaches to opioid receptors;

Reject reference to active site

2. (More) dopamine released (to provide pain relief);

Reject receptors release dopamine
2

(c) 1. (Inside of postsynaptic) neurone becomes more

negative/hyperpolarisation/inhibitory postsynaptic potential;
Ignore K+
Accept -75mV or any value below this as equivalent to more
negative
Accept ‘decrease in charge’

2. More sodium ions required (to reach threshold)

OR
Not enough sodium ions enter (to reach threshold);
Accept Na+ for sodium ions

3. For depolarisation/action potential;

Context must covey idea that depolarisation / action potential
is less likely
3
[8]

Page 18 of 20
Q9.
(a) 1. Circular muscle contracts;

2. Radial muscle relaxes;

Accept, for one mark ‘both muscles contract’ or ‘both
muscles relax’ as names of muscles are in the diagram.
Reject muscles constrict.
2

(b) 1. High (visual) acuity;

2. (Each) cone is connected to a single neurone;

Accept no retinal convergence.
Accept ‘bipolar/nerve cell’ for neurone.

3. (Cones send) separate (sets of) impulses to brain;

Accept ‘optic nerve’ for brain.
Reject ‘signals’, ‘messages’ for ‘impulses’.
Accept ‘action potential’.
3

(c) 1. Correct answer of 0.6 (%) = 2 marks;;

Ignore any numbers after 0.6, 2.58, 2.6 and after 0.43.

2. Incorrect answer but shows number sequence 7065 / 7068 / 7069 /

(ignore position of decimal point) = 1 mark

OR

Final answer number sequence has 64 / 65 (ignore preceding

zeros, numbers that follow and position of decimal point) = 1 mark

OR

Final answer is 2.58 / 2.6 (%) = 1 mark

OR

Final answer of 0.43 (%) = 1 mark;

2

(d) 1. High (visual) sensitivity;

Accept retinal convergence.

2. Several rods connected to a single neurone;

Accept ‘bipolar/nerve cell’ for neurone
Accept 2, ‘many’ or

3. Enough (neuro)transmitter to reach/overcome threshold

OR

Spatial summation to reach/overcome threshold; more for ‘several’

Reject ‘signals’, ‘messages’ for ‘impulses’.
Accept named neurotransmitter.

Page 19 of 20
Accept depolarisation, ‘action potential’ or ‘generator
potential’ for ‘to reach threshold’.
Generator potentials combine to reach threshold/
depolarisation/action potential/generator potential.
3
[10]

Page 20 of 20