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Date November 2017 Marks available 2 Reference code 17N.3.HL.TZ0.21
Level Higher level Paper Paper 3 Time zone TZ0 / no time zone
Command term Distinguish Question number 21 Adapted from N/A

Question

Jaundice causes a yellow discolouration of the skin, mucous membranes and sclera of the eyes. State the bile pigment causing this discolouration.

[1]
a.i.

Explain how the normal production of bile pigments changes with the development of jaundice.

[4]
a.ii.

Distinguish between the structure of liver sinusoids and capillaries.

[2]
b.

Markscheme

bilirubin

a.i.

normal production: [2 max]

a. red blood cells/erythrocytes/hemoglobin broken down «in the liver»

b. hemoglobin/heme «from red blood cells» is converted to bilirubin/bile pigment

c. bilirubin/bile pigment transferred to bile and «normally» eliminated in the feces

change with jaundice:

d. «in jaundice» liver does not excrete/eliminate bilirubin/bile pigments

e. caused by immaturity/dysfunction/disease «of the liver»

    OR

    blockage of bile ducts

    OR

    increase in red blood cells breakdown

f. therefore bilirubin/bile pigment accumulates in the blood

[Max 4 Marks]

 

a.ii.

a. sinusoids have open pores/fenestrations/discontinuous endothelium and capillary endothelium is continuous/does not contain fenestrations

b. Kupffer cells are located inside sinusoids but not in capillaries

c. sinusoids larger in diameter/wider than capillaries

[Max 2 Marks]

b.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.i.
[N/A]
a.ii.
[N/A]
b.

Syllabus sections

Option D: Human physiology » Option D: Human physiology (Core topics) » D.3 Functions of the liver
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Option D: Human physiology » Option D: Human physiology (Core topics)
Option D: Human physiology

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