CourseCourseConceptConcept

CAIE IGCSE Biology 9.2 Heart Questions

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

  • identify atria, ventricles, septum, coronary arteries and major vessels on heart diagrams
  • trace one-way blood flow through chambers and valves into the pulmonary artery and aorta
  • interpret pulse or ECG and exercise data, then explain coronary-heart-disease risks, prevention 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

Question 1

[Maximum number: 6]

Fig. 2.1 shows a cross-section of a human heart.

Fig. 2.1

Fig. 2.1

Question (a)

(a)

On Fig. 2.1, label with an R the position of the right ventricle.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

State the names of the structures labelled A and B on Fig. 2.1.

A

B

[ 2 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Fig. 2.2 shows a cross-section of part of a heart that has an incomplete structure.

Fig. 2.2

Fig. 2.2

Explain how the incomplete heart structure shown in Fig. 2.2 may affect a person's ability to transport oxygen.

[ 3 ]

Question 2

[Maximum number: 13]

Fig. 3.1 is a diagram of a section through a human heart.

Fig. 3.1

Fig. 3.1

Question (a)

(a)

Draw an X on the septum in Fig. 3.1.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Explain the reason for the difference between the thickness of the walls at B and at C in Fig. 3.1.

[ 2 ]

Question (c)

(c)

A red blood cell enters the vena cava at A in Fig. 3.1.

Explain how the red blood cell is moved from the vena cava to the aorta.

[ 6 ]

Question (d)

(d)

An athlete measured her heart rate during a running race. She recorded it before the race, during the race and during her recovery.

Her results are shown in Fig. 3.2.

Fig. 3.2

Fig. 3.2

[ 4 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Suggest how the athlete could monitor the activity of her heart.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Explain why heart rate must increase during exercise.

[ 3 ]

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 ]

Question 4

[Maximum number: 1]

Fig. 3.1 is a diagram of a section through a human heart.

Fig. 3.1

Fig. 3.1

An athlete measured her heart rate during a running race. She recorded it before the race, during the race and during her recovery.

Her results are shown in Fig. 3.2.

Fig. 3.2

Fig. 3.2

Suggest how the athlete could monitor the activity of her heart.

Question 5

[Maximum number: 2]

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.

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

Describe how the students could measure their pulse.

Question 6

[Maximum number: 2]

Carbohydrates are an important component of a balanced diet.
The flow chart in Fig. 3.1 shows some of the processes that happen to carbohydrates in food that is eaten.

Fig. 3.1

Fig. 3.1

Consuming too much of some mineral salts, such as sodium chloride, increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD).

Doctors studied the effect of diet on the risk of developing CHD.
The doctors first selected volunteers who had a high salt diet.
The doctors assessed the volunteers' overall risk of developing CHD and monitored their blood pressure.

List two factors, other than diet and blood pressure, that the doctors considered when assessing the overall risk of the volunteers developing CHD.

1

2

Question 7

[Maximum number: 4]

Carbohydrates are an important component of a balanced diet.
The flow chart in Fig. 3.1 shows some of the processes that happen to carbohydrates in food that is eaten.

Fig. 3.1

Fig. 3.1

Question (a)

(a)

The volunteers were divided into two groups.

The mass of salt consumed by both groups was changed every 4 weeks:
- low salt intake for 4 weeks
- medium salt intake for 4 weeks
- high salt intake for 4 weeks.

In addition, group 2 was given other changes to their diet but group 1 was not.

The systolic blood pressure of the volunteers was measured every 4 weeks. These results are shown in Fig. 3.2.

Fig. 3.2

Fig. 3.2

[ 4 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Suggest one component of the diet of group 2, other than salt, that the doctors changed to further reduce the risk of developing CHD.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

The doctors concluded that some diets reduce the risk of CHD.

Give evidence from Fig. 3.2 to support this conclusion.

[ 3 ]

Question 8

[Maximum number: 2]

Fig. 4.1 shows a section through a human heart and the main blood vessels.

Fig. 4.1

Fig. 4.1

Explain why the heart wall at H is thicker than the heart wall at D in Fig. 4.1.

Question 9

[Maximum number: 4]

Heart rate is influenced by electrical impulses from the brain.

Question (a)

(a)

The electrical activity of the heart can be recorded on an ECG.

Fig. 3.1 shows an ECG of one heartbeat.

Fig. 3.1

Fig. 3.1

[ 4 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Table 3.1 shows how the electrical activity, during one heartbeat, corresponds to the opening and closing of the valves in the heart.

Complete Table 3.1 using the words 'open' and 'closed'.

Table 3.1

Table 3.1

[ 3 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

State the function of heart valves.

[ 1 ]
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