plumiBlood vessels: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Edexcel International A Level Biology past-paper questions on 1.2.2 Blood vessels, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q3(a)
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All 33 questions on Blood vessels, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q3(a) (3 marks): The diagram shows part of a cross‑section of an artery. Complete the diagram to show details of the structure of an artery. Label two features of an artery on y
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): Which is the ratio of the diameter of the lumen to the thickness of wall in the vena cava? (1) A 0.06 : 1.00 B 1.00 : 0.02 C 1.00 : 16.67 D 60.00 : 1.00
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the cross‑sectional area of the lumen of this small vein. Use the formula: cross‑sectional area = πr2 Give your answer as a whole number. (2) Answer µ
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): How many times greater is the diameter of the lumen of the aorta than the diameter of the lumen of the capillary? (1) A 17 800 B 17 900 C 178 000 D 179 000
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q4(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why the wall of the aorta is thicker than the wall of a capillary. (3)
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q4(c) (3 marks): The graph shows the rate of flow of blood through the aorta of a dog with increasing distance from the heart. Rate of flow of 160 blood in a forward direction 14
- June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which blood vessels have valves along their length? (1) A P B P and R C Q D Q and R
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q5(c) (4 marks): The tunica media is the middle layer in the wall of an artery. The table shows the percentages of some components in the tunica media of arteries of different s
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q5(d)(i) (1 mark): Which graph shows the diameter of the blood vessels? (1) A graph 1 B graph 3 C graph 4 D graph 6
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q5(d)(ii) (1 mark): Which graph shows the permeability of the blood vessels? (1) A graph 1 B graph 2 C graph 3 D graph 6
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q8(f) (3 marks): Explain how lymph is moved in one direction in the lymphatic system (paragraphs 15 and 16). (3)
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q8(g) (3 marks): Suggest how aging may have an adverse effect on the structure of the lymphatic system (paragraph 17). (3)
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): How many of the following are correct for blood vessel P? (1) • carries blood to the heart • has valves along its length • has an endothelial lining A 0 B 1 C 2
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Why is blood vessel Q classified as an artery? (1) A because it carries deoxygenated blood B because it carries oxygenated blood C because it carries blood away
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q3(a) (2 marks): Describe how the structure of capillaries relates to their function. (2)
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q3(b) (3 marks): Draw a cross‑section of an artery to show details of its structure. Label two features of the artery on your diagram. (3)
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q3(c) (2 marks): Explain why veins need valves along their length. (2)
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q4(a) (3 marks): Complete the table. Use the formula: surface area = 2πrl where r is the radius of the blood vessel and l is the length of the vessel. (3)
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q4(b) (3 marks): Explain why the velocity of blood flow in the large arteries is slower than the velocity of blood flow in the aorta. (3)
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q4(c) (2 marks): Explain why the total surface area of the capillaries needs to be so high. (2)
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q4(d)(i) (1 mark): The diagrams show the relative proportions of components found in blood vessel walls. Which diagram represents the wall of a large artery? (1) A Key: B endothel
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q4(d)(ii) (1 mark): Draw a diagram, using the style above, to represent the wall of a capillary. (1)
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain the role of collagen in the wall of the aorta. (2)
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q5(b) (6 marks): Age and sex affect the types and density of collagen found in the wall of the aorta. These are thought to cause aortic stiffness. In one study, scientists inves
- October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q3(b) (3 marks): The table shows some structures and the types of blood vessel that they are found in. Put a cross in each row to show where these structures are found. (3) Foun
- October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q3(c) (3 marks): The graph shows the velocity of the blood as it flows through the arteries into the capillaries and then into the veins. vein artery arterioles venules capillar
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q2(b) (2 marks): Blood leaves the heart through the arteries. Compare and contrast the structure of the aorta with the structure of the pulmonary artery. (2)
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q2(c) (3 marks): Blood returns to the heart through the veins. The diagram shows the outline of a vein. The direction of flow of blood is also shown. Complete and label the diag
- January 2021, AS Unit 3, Q3(b)(iv) (4 marks): Determine the effects of ECH and HC on artery thickness. (4)
- June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q7(c)(i) (3 marks): Draw a labelled diagram of an artery, as seen in section. (3)
- June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the arteries near the heart of a giraffe are highly elastic. (2)
- June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q7(d)(i) (2 marks): Explain why very narrow capillaries prevent excessive bleeding. (2)
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q4(c) (3 marks): The graph shows the changes in the internal diameter of the aorta during two cardiac cycles. 14 Internal diameter of 13 aorta / mm 12 Time Explain the changes i
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