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CAIE IGCSE Biology 9.2 The Mammalian Heart

Practise heart questions on chamber and vessel labels, one-way blood flow, valve action, exercise heart-rate data and coronary artery disease risk.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Biology 0610

Exam points

  • label atria, ventricles, septum, coronary arteries and major vessels on heart diagrams
  • trace one-way blood flow through chambers, valves, pulmonary artery and aorta
  • interpret exercise or CHD evidence using heart rate, blockage, risk factors or treatment

Covered syllabus points

9.2.1—Structures of the mammalian heart9.2.2—Blood is pumped away from the heart9.2.3—Activity of the heart may be monitored9.2.4—Effect of physical activity on9.2.5—Coronary heart disease in terms9.2.6—Roles of diet and exercise in reducing9.2.7—Atrioventricular and semilunar valves9.2.8—Relative thickness of: (a) the muscle9.2.9—Importance of the septum in separating9.2.10—Heart function9.2.11—Effect of physical activity on

9.2 Heart question 1

[Maximum number: 3]

Question (a)

(a)

Fig. 6.1 shows diagrams of the circulatory systems of a fish and a mammal.
The arrows show the direction of blood flow through the circulatory systems.

Fig. 6.1

Fig. 6.1

[ 2 ]

Question (i)

(i)

State the name of structure V on Fig. 6.1 and describe its function.

[ 2 ]

Question (b)

(b)

The blood vessels that supply the heart muscle can become blocked.

[ 1 ]

Question (i)

(i)

State the name of the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle.

[ 1 ]

9.2 Heart question 2

[Maximum number: 1]

Through which pathway does blood leave the heart?

A

through arteries from the atria

B

through arteries from the ventricles

C

through veins from the atria

D

through veins from the ventricles

9.2 Heart question 3

[Maximum number: 13]

A group of students investigated the effect of exercise on their heart rates.
They measured their heart rates:
- before exercise
- immediately after running 1 km
- one minute after running 1 km

Before doing the investigation they wrote a hypothesis.

Question (a)

(a)

Write a hypothesis for this investigation.

[ 2 ]

Question (b)

(b)

The students measured their pulse as an indicator of heart rate.

Describe how the students could measure their pulse.

[ 2 ]

Question (c)

(c)

In another investigation, a doctor tested some of her patients to determine the effect of exercise on coronary heart disease.

Coronary heart disease is caused by a blockage in the coronary artery.
Describe the effect on the heart of a blockage in the coronary artery.

[ 2 ]

Question (d)

(d)

The doctor divided her coronary heart disease patients randomly into two equal groups.

Each group was given different instructions:
- group A - patients were given a daily exercise plan
- group B - patients were told to make their own exercise plan.

The doctor measured the heart rate (HR) of each patient immediately after doing exercise and again one minute later.

She calculated their heart rate recovery using this formula:
heart rate recovery = HR immediately after exercise - HR one minute after exercise.
She then calculated the average heart rate recovery for each of the two groups of patients.
The doctor repeated these measurements after three months and after six months.
The results are shown in Fig. 2.1.

Fig. 2.1

Fig. 2.1

Describe and explain the effect of exercise on the average heart rate recovery of the coronary heart disease patients in group A and group B.

Use data from Fig. 2.1 to support your answer.

[ 6 ]

Question (e)

(e)

Exercise may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

State one other possible way of reducing the risk of developing coronary heart disease.

[ 1 ]
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