plumiMuscle contraction: OCR A‑Level Biology A questions
OCR A-Level Biology A past-paper questions on 5.1.5.7 Muscle contraction, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q3(a)
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All 12 questions on Muscle contraction, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q3(a) (6 marks): (a)* The three photomicrographs, D, E and F, show three different types of muscle tissue. D E F 9 State which photomicrograph shows cardiac muscle, which shows
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q3(b) (3 marks): The table lists events that occur during muscle contraction. Each event is represented by a letter. Letter Event H ATP binds to myosin, which causes myosin to d
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how the binding of antibodies to acetylcholine receptors in the neuromuscular junction reduces the rate at which Ca2+ ions bind to troponin. [2]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q13 (1 mark): An electromyogram (EMG) records the electrical activity of a muscle. The figure shows an EMG trace of a muscle undergoing fatigue. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Tim
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q19(a) (3 marks): The table lists structural and functional differences between different types of muscle. Place a tick (3) in each box where the structure or function applies to
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q19(b)(i) (3 marks): Identify three proteins that make up the filaments labelled Z on Fig. 19.1. 1 2 3 [3]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q19(b)(ii) (2 marks): Labels X and Y in Fig. 19.1 indicate two distinct bands. Explain why the two bands look different. [2]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q19(b)(iii) (3 marks): Use your knowledge of the sliding filament model of muscle contraction to explain why Fig. 19.2 represents contracted muscle. [3]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q19(c) (2 marks): After death, the concentration of ATP in muscle cells decreases. During this time, the muscles become rigid in a process called rigor mortis. Suggest why a lack
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q19(d) (6 marks): (d)* Muscle contraction requires energy in the form of ATP. Describe the different sources of the ATP that is used in muscle contraction during strenuous exerci
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q16(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why glucose is required for the contraction of skeletal muscle. [3]
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q5(b)(ii) (2 marks): Multiple sclerosis and Guillain–Barré syndrome both cause muscle weakness and loss of muscle function. Suggest and describe how the function of neuromuscular ju
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