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B3.2.15 (HL)—Mammalian heart adaptations

The mammalian heart uses four chambers, valves, thick ventricular muscle and named vessels to pump blood one way through pulmonary and systemic circuits.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Objective
B3.2.15
Level
HL

Exam analysis

Chance of appearing7%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceMay 2024
Most common paperPaper2
Typical marks1–4

Common command terms

  • Identify
  • State
  • Label
  • Describe
  • Explain
  • Draw

Scoring notes

Common mistake
Connecting pulmonary vessels to the wrong chambers in heart pathway questions.

Recent exam appearances

May 2024Paper1 ["HL"] · TZ126[ 1 ]B3.2.15 (HL)—Mammalian heart adaptations
November 2019Paper1 ["HL"] · TZ021[ 1 ]B3.2.15 (HL)—Mammalian heart adaptations
May 2019Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ16(b)[ 4 ]B3.2.15 (HL)—Mammalian heart adaptations
May 2019Paper1 ["HL"] · TZ120[ 1 ]B3.2.15 (HL)—Mammalian heart adaptations
November 2015Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ08(a)[ 5 ]B3.2.15 (HL)—Mammalian heart adaptations
Practice this objective

Coverage 2012–2024 · Updated 15 Jul 2026

Concept essentials

  • Atria receive blood from veins and pass it into ventricles.
  • Ventricles pump blood into arteries, with the left ventricle generating the highest pressure.
  • Atrioventricular valves prevent backflow from ventricles to atria.
  • Semilunar valves prevent blood returning from arteries to ventricles.
  • The pulmonary artery leaves the right ventricle, while the aorta leaves the left ventricle.
ConceptIB Biology HL