IB Biology HL 3.2.3 Artery Adaptations Question Bank
Practise IB Biology HL 3.2.3 by explaining how arterial layers, elastic fibres and lumens withstand changing blood pressure.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Course
- Biology HL
- Level
- HL
Exam points
- Explain how collagen, muscle and elastic fibres protect arteries during pressure increases.
- Use lumen and elastic-wall functions to interpret arterial pressure and flow questions.
B3.2.3—Artery adaptations question 1
Hypertension (blood pressure exceeding 140 mmHg ) affects millions of people worldwide. Many modern societies consume more sodium in the form of salt (NaCl) than is required for normal physiology. The effect of changing the levels of dietary sodium has been studied in various organisms.
Scientists recorded the blood pressure changes in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) fed a diet without added sodium (control) or a sodium supplemented diet (experimental) as follows
- 5 grams of salt per day from December 1991 until May 1992
- 10 grams of salt per day until June 1992
- 15 grams of salt per day until August 1993
after which no more salt was added to the diet until the experiment ended.
Blood pressure is measured in the arteries. Explain how arteries are adapted to withstand increases in blood pressure.
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