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Date May 2017 Marks available 3 Reference code 17M.3.HL.TZ1.19
Level Higher level Paper Paper 3 Time zone Time zone 1
Command term Describe Question number 19 Adapted from N/A

Question

Samples from cardiac muscle were taken during autopsies from individuals who had coronary heart disease (CHD) and a control group. The histogram shows the relationship between the quantity of cardiac muscle cells and their diameter in the left ventricle in the two groups.

Distinguish between the distribution of cardiac muscle cell diameters in the CHD and control groups.

[1]
a.

Describe how the structure of cardiac muscle cells allows them to transmit impulses.

[3]
b.

Explain the reason for the delay between contractions of the atria and of the ventricles.

[2]
c.

Markscheme

a. CHD has wider range/spread/more variation of diameter values / vice versa 

b. control has higher percentage/proportion/peak in middle values (accept numbers between 8–12)

Accept numerical statement supporting this

a.

a. are branched/ have a Y-shape/ interconnected / connect to several neighbouring «cardiac» cells 

b. intercalated discs are special regions of/junctions between plasma membranes 

c. provide electrical coupling / enable rapid transmission of «electrical» impulses «between cells» 

d. ion channels in membranes 

e. «ease of» flow of ions allows action potentials to spread «between cardiac cells»
OR
«ease of» flow of ions allows rhythmic depolarization 

f. trigger action potentials without nervous input 

Accept annotated drawings.

b.

a. impulses from atria do not pass directly to ventricles «due to layer of fibrous material» 

b. travel to ventricle via atrio-ventricular node/AVN in wall of right atrium 

c. impulses from AVN sent along Bundle of His /conducting fibres/Purkinje fibres 

d. ensures that the atria have ejected their blood into the ventricles first before the ventricles contract

c.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.

Syllabus sections

Option D: Human physiology » Option D: Human physiology (Core topics) » D.4 The heart
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Option D: Human physiology » Option D: Human physiology (Core topics)
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