plumiThe heart and the cardiac cycle: OCR A‑Level Biology A questions
OCR A-Level Biology A past-paper questions on 3.1.2.3 The heart and the cardiac cycle, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 28 questions on The heart and the cardiac cycle, as a list
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q10 (1 mark): The diagram is of a dissected lamb heart. Atrium Left ventricle Valve V What is the name of the structure labelled V? A Aorta B Apex C Septum D Vena cava Your a
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q14 (1 mark): The diagram shows a stage of the cardiac cycle. What stage of the cardiac cycle is shown in the diagram and which valves are open? A Atrial systole and atrioven
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): Which statement describes features of the mammalian heart? A Branches of the pulmonary artery supply blood to the heart muscle. B Semi-lunar valves prevent back
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): During exercise the cardiac output of an athlete is 28 dm3 min–1 and their stroke volume is 5 160 cm3. How many heart beats occur when the athlete exercises for
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): Which of the statements about the heart is correct? A Contraction of the ventricles is known as ventricular systole. B Deoxygenated blood enters the heart by th
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q16(a)(i) (3 marks): Use the data in Fig. 16.1 to calculate the cardiac output in week 20. Cardiac output = Unit [3]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q16(a)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest an advantage of the increase in cardiac output. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q16(b) (6 marks): During pregnancy the mother’s body undergoes several physiological changes to support the developing fetus. These changes affect every organ system in the body.
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q26(a) (3 marks): Fig. 26.1 shows a dissected human heart. Fig. 26.1 Back (dorsal) half of heart Front (ventral) half of heart Draw a simple diagram of the front half of the hear
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q15 (1 mark): The diagram shows the changes in pressure in the left atrium, left ventricle and aorta in a single cardiac cycle. D 20 Aorta C 15 Pressure 10 (kPa) 5 A B Left a
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q3(c) (3 marks): Fig. 3.4 shows the changes in pressure in the left side of the heart and aorta during one cardiac cycle. 16 C 14 12 Aorta 10 Pressure (kPa) 8 Left ventricle 6 4
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): Which of the options, A to D, on the diagram below shows the time at which the SAN sends out a wave of excitation to initiate a heartbeat? 20 Aorta 15 Pressure
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q4 (1 mark): The sounds of the heartbeat due to heart valves closing can be described as ‘lub-dub’. The ‘lub’ sound occurs at the beginning of ventricular systole. Which of
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Name two arteries that could be seen by the students. 1 2 [2]
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): The students then carried out a dissection of the heart. Fig. 2.2 is an example of a drawing from one of the students. Left ventricle Tricuspid valve Right vent
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q2(b)(iii) (3 marks): Another student pointed out that there were structural and labelling errors in the drawing in Fig. 2.2. In the space below, list three of these errors and the c
- November 2020, Paper 3, Q2(a) (2 marks): Valves control the flow of blood through the heart. Complete the table below to show the roles of two valves in the heart. Source Valve that controls Destinatio
- November 2020, Paper 3, Q2(b) (4 marks): A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a hole in the septum of the heart. The diagram below shows a heart with VSD. ventricular septal defect 7 Describe and expla
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q16(a)(i) (4 marks): Using Fig. 16, compare the changes in pressure in the left ventricle with the changes in pressure in the left atrium. [4]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q16(a)(ii) (1 mark): Using Fig. 16, calculate the heart rate of this individual. Give your answer to 2 significant figures. heart rate = [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q16(a)(iii) (2 marks): Using Fig. 16, calculate the percentage change between minimum and maximum pressure in the aorta. Give your answer to 2 significant figures. percentage change =
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q16(a)(iv) (1 mark): Name the valve which closes at point X on Fig. 16. [1]
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): The diagram below shows an internal view of the mammalian heart with the atria removed so valves can be seen. B C D A Which of the valves, labelled A to D, is p
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): Which of the statements, A to D, explains why diastole follows systole in the mammalian heart? A Cardiac muscle is myogenic. B Cardiac muscle takes a short time
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): Looking at the two hearts in Fig. 2.2, a student decided that Heart 2 was a better choice for the dissection because it had more structures present. What eviden
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name the structure labelled Z on Fig. 2.2. [1]
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q2(c) (6 marks): (c)* Fig. 2.3 shows the heart at different stages of the cardiac cycle. A B C D Fig. 2.3 11 Box A shows atrial diastole. Blood is entering the atria, which are
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): The pressure changes in one mammalian cardiac cycle are shown in the graph below. Key 16 ventricular pressure atrial pressure 12 pressure (kPa) 8 4 0 0 0.2 0.4
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