Revision Exercise (Breathing System & Transport System in Human)

1. The photographs below show the sections of the lung tissues of a cigarette smoker and a non-smoker observed
under the microscope with the same magnification:

(i)

What is structure A?

(1 mark)

Air sac
(ii)

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Describe and explain the mechanism by which air from the atmosphere is drawn into structure A.
(4 marks)

Intercostal muscle contracts and the ribs move upwards and outwards.

Diaphragm muscle contracts to make the diaphragm flattened.

These two actions increase the volume of the thoracic cavity.

Thus the pressure inside the lung is lower than that of the atmosphere.

Then the air moves into the structure A.

With reference to the photographs, explain how the function of structure A is affected by cigarette
smoking

(2 marks)

The number and surface area of structure A (air sac) is reduced./ surface is less folded.

This can greatly reduce the rate of gas exchange.

(iv)
lung cancer

(1)

State a disease which may be caused by tar in cigarette smoke.

(1 mark)
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(2)

Draw a labeled diagram of a set-up used to show the presence of tar in cigarette smoke.
(3 marks)

Large and accurate diagram (D)

Label and title (L) : *cigaittte, filter *pump, *cotton wool

4 x 0.5

(No mark if the set-up is not workable)

A set-up to show the presence of tar in cigarette smoke

[HKCEE 1997 #2a]

2. To study the effect of concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide on the breathing rate, a healthy person was
asked to inhale different gas mixtures. The results are shown in the table below:
Gas mixture

(i)

Concentration of gas (%)

Breathing rate

Oxygen

Carbon dioxide

(breaths per minute)

21

0.03

17

21

4.00

34

16

0.03

17

16

4.00

34

With reference to the above information, state the factor that affects the breathing rate of the person.
Explain how you arrive at your answer.

(3 marks)

Concentration of carbon dioxide

At a fixed O2 concentration, when the carbon dioxide concentration increases, the breathing rate will also

increase.
At a fixed CO2 concentration, when the oxygen concentration decreases, the breathing rate will not change.

(ii)

Which of the four gas mixtures has similar concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide as exhaled air?
(1 mark)

(iii)

Mouth-to-mouth ventilation is a method for rescuing a person who fails to breathe but still has heartbeat.
It involves blowing exhaled air into the patient's body through the mouth as shown below:

Based on the composition of exhaled air, explain why this method can help the patient stay alive
before he can breathe again.
(2 marks)
Exhaled air still contains 16% oxygen.

When blown into the patients lungs, the oxygen can be supplied to the body cell for respiration.

(iv)

Suggest why it is necessary to do the following when carrying out mouth-to-mouth ventilation:
(1) Tilt the patient's head as shown in the diagram, instead of letting it lie flat.
(1 mark)

To ensure the entrance of the trachea is clear/ free from obstructions.

(2) Observe whether the patient's chest rises when blowing air into the patient.
To ensure that air is blown into the lungs.

(1 mark)
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[HKCEE 2003 #1a]

3. The diagram below shows an air sac of the lung and its blood supply:

(i)

Explain the importance of the water film in gaseous exchange.

(2 marks)

Oxygen in air dissolves in the water film

so that it can diffuse readily through the wall of air sac into the blood capillary.

(ii)

SARS patients may have fluid accumulated in the air sac. Explain how the accumulation of
fluid may affect the oxygen content of the blood of the patients.
(3 marks)

The accumulation of fluid increases the distance for diffusion and reduces the surface area for dissolving

oxygen,
thereby decrease the rate of diffusion of dissolved oxygen into the blood capillaries.

Thus the oxygen content of the blood decreases/ becomes lower than normal.

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[HKCEE 2004 #1c]

4. The diagram below shows an air sac and its associated blood capillary of a heavy smoker:

X
(i)

According to the diagram, state two adaptations of the air sacs for gas exchange.

(2

marks)
Air sacs have a large surface area to volume ratio. /
The thin epithelium provides a short distance for rapid diffusion of gases. /
Blood capillaries are in close contact with the air sacs.

Any two
2x1

(ii) Name the gas that moves from the air in the air sacs to the blood. Explain how this happens.
(4 marks)
Oxygen.

The oxygen concentration is higher in the air sacs than in the blood capillaries.

Oxygen then dissolves in the film of moisture lining the air sacs

and diffuses from the air sacs into the blood capillaries.

(iii)

Substance X deposited on the inner surface of the air sac comes from cigarette smoke.

(1 mark)

What is substance X?
Tar

5. The graph below shows the pressure changes that occur in the two ventricles X and Y, during 2 consecutive
cardiac cycles of a man at rest:

(i)

With reference to the graph, calculate the number of heartbeats per minute of this man at rest.
(1 mark)

60
2 = 75 (beats per minute)
1.6
(ii)

(1)

Which of the ventricles, X or Y, is responsible for supplying blood to all parts of the body
except the lungs ?

(1 mark)
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(2)

Explain your answer with reference to the graph.

X can produce greater pressure/ force to pump the blood to all parts of the body

(iii)

(1)

State the function of the heart valves.

(1 mark)
1

(2 marks)

To prevent the backflow of blood into the auricles / atria

when the ventricles are contracting.

OR
To prevent the backflow of blood into the ventricles

when the ventricles are relaxing.

(2)

Closed.

(I)

What is the condition of the valves between the auricles and the ventricles at time
A?
(1 mark)
1

(II) Explain your answer with reference to the graph.

(2 marks)

At time A, the ventricular pressure is increasing,

thus forcing the valves to close.

(iv)

Name the blood vessels which receive blood from the left and right ventricles respectively.
Compare the oxygen content in their blood.
(3 marks)

From left ventricle: * aorta

From right ventricle: * pulmonary artery

Blood in aorta contains more oxygen than that in the pulmonary artery.

[HKCEE 1991 #4b]

6. The diagram below shows part of the circulatory system and its neighbouring cells:

(i)

P is in the form of a highly branched network. Explain the importance of this feature to the function of
P.

(4 marks)

The capillary network has a large total cross-sectional area

so reduces the rate of blood flow/ more time is allowed for the exchange of substances.

The numerous branches provide a large surface area

for rapid exchange of substances between the blood and the tissue cells.

(ii)

Describe how fluid B is formed from fluid A.

(3 marks)

The pressure of fluid A near the arterial end is higher than that of fluid B

Some of the plasma except large proteins/ some of the blood except large proteins, red blood cells and

platelets
are forced through the thin wall of the blood capillary/ P to form fluid B

(iii)

(1)

Substances in fluid C will eventually reach the heart. Which chamber of the heart first receives
these substances ?

(1 mark)

Right atrium

(2)

Describe how the continuous flow to fluid C towards the heart is maintained. (2 marks)

The contraction of skeletal muscles help to push fluid C along the lymph vessels,

OR during inspiration, the drop in the pressure of the thoracic cavity helps to draw fluid C towards the heart

The valves of the lymph vessels prevent the backflow of lymph.

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[HKCEE 1998 #3a]

7. The diagram below shows part of the human circulatory system:

(i)

Describe how a continuous flow of lymph in vessel Y of the leg is maintained.

(2 marks)

Contraction of skeletal muscles around vessel Y forces the lymph to flow upward.

The valves in vessel Y help to prevent the backflow of lymph

(ii)

For a patient suffering from a disease called elephantiasis, the lymph vessels in his leg are blocked by a
kind of parasitic worm. The leg becomes greatly swollen due to the accumulation of tissue fluid.
Explain why the tissue fluid accumulates.

(2 marks)

As the lymph vessels are blocked, tissue fluid in leg cannot be transported away.

Meanwhile, it is continuously formed in the leg

thus tissue fluid accumulates.

8. The graph below shows the blood pressure of blood vessels at different locations of the pulmonary circulation:

(i)

(1)

Using the letters A to E in the graph, construct a flowchart to show the direction of blood flow
from the heart along the pulmonary circulation.

(1 mark)

(Heart) B D E C A

(2)

State the criterion you should use in constructing the flowchart in (1).

(1 mark)

Blood flows from a high pressure region to a low pressure region.

(ii)

The blood vessels of two of the above locations show rhythmic changes in blood pressure. Explain how
these blood pressure changes are related to the heart activity.

(2 marks)

When the ventricle of the heart contracts, blood is forced into the artery B, resulting in the increase of blood

pressure
Blood in the artery flows forward along the blood vessels while the ventricle of the heart relaxes, as a result

the blood pressure drops./

(iii)

State two blood components responsible for killing specific pathogens in the human body.

(2 marks)

White blood cells (lymphocyte/ phagocyte)

(iv)

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(Accept other alternatives)

Immunity can be acquired by vaccination. Vaccine may be injected into the tissue under the skin.
Describe how the vaccine can be transported to the heart after injection.

(3 marks)

Vaccine injected reaches the tissue fluid

which drains back to lymph vessels/ capillary

and returns to the heart via a vein.

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[HKCEE 2008 #9b]

(v)

If E is the capillary in the leg, and it is provided that it has low velocity of blood. Explain the
importance of the low velocity of blood flow in the capillary.
(2 marks)

To allow more time

for the exchange of materials between the blood and the tissue cells.

(vi)

In the vein of the leg, the blood pressure is very low while the velocity of blood flow is quite high.
Describe how such a high velocity of blood flow in the vein is maintained.

(2 marks)

The volume of blood flow through each section of the circulation per unit time is the same.

From the capillary to the vein, the total cross-sectional area decreases, so the velocity of blood flow increases.

OR
Contraction of skeletal muscle adjacent to the vein helps to force the blood to flow / inspiration helps to draw 1
blood toward the thorax.
At the same time, valves are present in the veins to prevent the backflow of the blood.

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[HKCEE 2002 #4b]