AP Biology : Circulatory Physiology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understanding Osmotic And Oncotic Pressure

Osmolarity plays an important role in how water travels within our body. Osmolarity describes the concentration of solutes within a solvent and is expressed as the amount of solutes divided by the volume of solvent:

 

The higher the amount of solute is within a volume of solvent and/or the lower the volume of solvent is, then the osmolarity will be greater. In regard to fluid movement, water will move from an area with a low osmolarity to an area with a high osmolarity. Human blood has an osmolarity of roughly:

 

At this concentration, the osmolarity inside the cell is equal to the osmolarity of the surrounding environment; therefore, it is considered to be in an isotonic solution. When the osmolarity around the cell is higher, then water will flow out of the cell and into the blood. This type of solution is called a hypertonic solution. Conversely, a hypotonic solution exits when the osmolarity of the fluid surrounding the cell is lower than that inside the cell. In this case, water will flow from the surrounding environment and into the cell.

James was stranded on an island. He was thirsty and decided to drink the water from the sea (which has a very high osmolarity). After drinking the water, his body became even more dehydrated and he began urinating more frequently. Which of the follow choices best explains why James urinated more frequently and became more dehydrated despite drinking the seawater?

Possible Answers:

None of these

The seawater was not processed by the kidneys because James' body lacked electrolytes

The seawater pulled water from James' cells, which left him more dehydrated and caused him to urinate more

The seawater could not be processed by the kidneys because James' malnourished body lacked proper amounts of glucose in the pancreas

James' body was malnourished and unable to absorb the seawater, which left as urine

Correct answer:

The seawater pulled water from James' cells, which left him more dehydrated and caused him to urinate more

Explanation:

Ocean water has a higher osmolarity (more units of solute per unit of solvent) than human blood. When James drank the ocean water, it was absorbed into his circulatory system and it pulled water from the cells. Water flows from an area of low osmolarity to an area of high osmolarity. When water was pulled from the cells, the fluid volume in James’ blood increased. As blood reached James’ kidneys, the extra fluid from the tissues was filtered into the urine and caused him to urinate more frequently. 

Example Question #1 : Understanding Other Vascular Physiology

Which of the following helps cool the body temperature?

Possible Answers:

Peripheral vasoconstriction

Hyperventilation

Peripheral vasodilation

Shivering

None of these

Correct answer:

Peripheral vasodilation

Explanation:

When the body temperature is too high, peripheral vasodilation can help exchange heat from the body to the environment. Warm blood from the center of the body is pumped to the extremities, which have a high surface area. The surface area is used to allow the heat from the blood to dissipate before it returns to the center of the body.

Peripheral vasoconstriction and shivering help increase the body temperature. Hyperventilation have no noticeable effect on body temperature.

Example Question #2 : Understanding Other Vascular Physiology

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs in which of the following structures?

Possible Answers:

Lymph ducts

Capillaries

Arteries

Sinusoids

Veins

Correct answer:

Capillaries

Explanation:

Capillaries are minute blood vessels that connect the arterial and venous systems. The walls of these vessels are extremely thin, allowing easy diffusion of gases, nutrients, and waste particles between the capillary and adjacent cells. Oxygen diffuses into cells from the capillary, and carbon dioxide diffuses into the capillary from the cells.

Example Question #3 : Understanding Other Vascular Physiology

Which blood vessel type can be constricted in order to reroute blood?

Possible Answers:

Capillary

Arteriole

Venule

Artery

Correct answer:

Arteriole

Explanation:

Vasoconstriction is a function of the smooth muscle that surrounds the vasculature. In order to reroute blood, the vessel needs to have a substantial amount of smooth muscle.

Arterioles have a relatively small diameter and a relatively large amount of smooth muscle. When contracted, this smooth muscle can obstruct the arteriole and route blood away from connected capillary beds. Capillaries do not have smooth muscle linings, and cannot constrict or reroute blood on their own. Arteries have a relatively large diameter; contraction of the surrounding smooth muscle can affect blood pressure, but will rarely be capable of rerouting the blood flow.

Example Question #4 : Understanding Other Vascular Physiology

What prevents backflow of blood in veins?

Possible Answers:

Nothing; blood often flows backward in veins

Blood pressure by itself is enough to keep blood flowing in a single direction

Veins contain a series of one-way valves that allow blood to only flow in one direction

Veins contain cilia which push the blood forward

Correct answer:

Veins contain a series of one-way valves that allow blood to only flow in one direction

Explanation:

Veins contain a series of one way valves that prevent blood from flowing backwards. This is particularly important in larger veins in the legs that are further below the heart, and must oppose gravity to get blood back to the heart. Almost all of the blood pressure produced by the heart is lost along capillaries, thus the blood pressure in the veins is almost zero. Blood is "squished up" a little at a time due to the contraction of the skeletal muscles around veins and the presence unidirectional valves.

Example Question #5 : Understanding Other Vascular Physiology

Oxygen-poor blood returns to the heart via which structure?

Possible Answers:

Left atrium

Pulmonary artery

Left ventricle

Pulmonary vein

Vena cava

Correct answer:

Vena cava

Explanation:

The venae cavae are the largest veins in the body. They return deoxygenated blood to the heart. The pulmonary veins bring oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium. The pulmonary arteries bring deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs to become oxygenated. The left ventricle hold oxygen-rich blood, and pumps it to the rest of the body. The left atrium is where freshly oxygenated blood is received via the pulmonary veins.

Example Question #4 : Understanding Other Vascular Physiology

The stable pH of human blood is closest to which of the following?

Possible Answers:

2-7

7-10

6.5

7.5

Correct answer:

7.5

Explanation:

The stable pH of blood is around 7.5 and is maintained by buffers, especially carbon dioxide/bicarbonate. Note that the blood pH is very tightly regulated and is adjusted by the respiratory and urinary systems.

Example Question #6 : Understanding Other Vascular Physiology

Blood with the highest oxygen content would be found where?

Possible Answers:

Coronary artery

Pulmonary arteries

Pulmonary veins

Vena cava

Aorta

Correct answer:

Pulmonary veins

Explanation:

The correct answer is pulmonary veins. The pulmonary veins transfer the newly oxygenated blood towards the heart. Blood in these veins is highly concentrated with oxygen unlike any of the other locations mentioned. The pulmonary arteries bring oxygen-poor blood towards the lungs to be oxygenized.

Example Question #1 : Cardiac Physiology

The sinoatrial node generates action potentials at a faster pace than normal heart rate. Why does the heart beat more slowly than the SA node would dictate?

Possible Answers:

The parasympathetic vagus nerve slows down the heart rate.

Many of the action potentials are not large enough to cause a contraction of the heart.

The atrioventricular node requires multiple action potentials in order to continue the electrical signal through the heart.

Half of the action potentials are dedicated to the contraction of the atria, and the other half are dedicated to the contraction of the ventricles.

Correct answer:

The parasympathetic vagus nerve slows down the heart rate.

Explanation:

The vagus nerve is responsible for slowing down the heart rate, and is able to "override" the faster, natural pace of the sinoatrial node. When the vagus nerve is severed from the heart, the heart will pump at the pace of the SA node.

Note that innervation is not necessary for the heart to continue beating; it is self-sustaining, but can be affected by innervation from the vagus nerve.

Example Question #2 : Cardiac Physiology

Which of the following structures is NOT part of the cardiac conducting system?

 

Possible Answers:

Chordae tendinae

Sinoatrial node 

Atrioventricular bundle

Purkinje fibers   

Correct answer:

Chordae tendinae

Explanation:

The chordae tendinae (tendinous chords or heart strings) are physical structures located in the heart lumen that connect the muscular wall of the heart to the tricuspid and mitral valves via papillary muscles.

The other answer options are examples of cell bundles and tissues that orchestrate the electrical conduction through the heart. Signals begin at the sinoatrial node and transition to the atrioventricular node. They then pass through the atrioventricular bundle (or bundle of His) to the purkinje fibers, which coordinate simultaneous ventricular contraction.

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