AP Biology : Systems Physiology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #13 : Understanding Heart Anatomy

What type of muscle makes up the human heart? 

Possible Answers:

Smooth and cardiac muscle 

Smooth muscle only

Skeletal muscle

Endocrine muscle

Cardiac muscle only

Correct answer:

Cardiac muscle only

Explanation:

The heart is composed of cardiac muscle. This is the only location in the entire body that contains this type of muscle. Skeletal muscles are those attached to bones, and are under voluntary control. While contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle is involuntary, it is not found in the heart. Cardiac muscle is unique in that the cells are connected via gap junctions, which allows rapid electrical conduction between them, producing wavelike contractions of the heart, essential to its function.

Example Question #14 : Understanding Heart Anatomy

Which chambers of the heart contain oxygen-poor blood?

Possible Answers:

Right atrium and left atrium

Right atrium and right ventricle

Left atrium and right ventricle

Right ventricle and left ventricle 

Left atrium and left ventricle

Correct answer:

Right atrium and right ventricle

Explanation:

The right side of the heart contains oxygen-poor blood. The right atrium receives oxygen-poor blood from the body through the superior and inferior vena cavae. This blood then flows into the right ventricle and then out the pulmonary valve into the lungs where the blood becomes oxygen-rich. The oxygen-rich blood goes to the right atrium then to the right ventricle where it is pumped to the system to provide oxygen to the cells of the body.

Example Question #12 : Understanding Heart Anatomy

Which correctly lists all the valves of the heart?

Possible Answers:

Tricuspid valve and aortic valve

Tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, bicuspid valve, and aortic valve

Tricuspid valve, bicuspid valve, and aortic valve

Tricuspid valve, bicuspid valve, aortic valve, and brachial valve

Tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, and aortic valve

Correct answer:

Tricuspid valve, pulmonary valve, bicuspid valve, and aortic valve

Explanation:

There are four valves in the heart. The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium from the right ventricle. The pulmonary valve separates the right ventricle from the pulmonary arteries. The bicuspid valve separates the left atrium from the left ventricle. The aortic valve separates the left ventricle from the aorta. These valves separate the chambers of the heart, and prevent back flow from one chamber to the other. The tricuspid valve is also known as the right atrioventricular valve, and the bicuspid valve is also known as the left atrioventricular valve, and the mitral valve.

Example Question #15 : Understanding Heart Anatomy

Which structure of the adult human heart receives blood directly from the pulmonary circulation?

Possible Answers:

Pulmonary artery

Right ventricle

Left atrium

Right atrium

Left ventricle

Correct answer:

Left atrium

Explanation:

The pulmonary circulation carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium via the pulmonary veins. From there it enters the left ventricle, then it is pumped out through the aorta to serve organs of the body.

Example Question #16 : Understanding Heart Anatomy

Which of the following statements about adult human heart anatomy are false?

Possible Answers:

The left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the pulmonary circulation

The right atrium receives oxygen-poor blood from the systemic circulation

The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood into the systemic circulation

The right ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood into the pulmonary circulation

The left atrium sends oxygen-rich blood to the left ventricle

Correct answer:

The right ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood into the pulmonary circulation

Explanation:

The right ventricle pumps oxygen-poor blood into the pulmonary circulation, not oxygen-rich blood. This blood leaves the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery and reaches the lungs. All other answer choices are true statements.

Example Question #24 : Circulatory System

When you listen to a beating heart, you will notice two sounds (“lub” and “dub”). The first sound (“lub”) is when the mitral and the tricuspid valves close at the same time. The second sound (“dub”) is due to the closing of the pulmonary and the aortic valves at the same time.

In some heart conditions, one might hear an extra sound between the “lub” and the “dub” sounds. Which of the following choices is the most plausible explanation for the extra sound?

Possible Answers:

The mitral valve closed, opened, and then closed again

The pulmonary valve did not close completely

The tricuspid valve opened too late 

The aortic valve did not close completely

The mitral valve did not close completely

Correct answer:

The mitral valve did not close completely

Explanation:

The first sound (“lub”) occurs when the mitral and the tricuspid valves close. The second sound (“dub”) occurs when the pulmonary and the aortic valves close. The mitral and tricuspid valves close after both the left and the right atrias have contracted and have released blood into the ventricles. Transitioning towards the second heart sound, the ventricles contract and release blood into the systemic and pulmonary circulatory systems. If an extra noise is heard between the “lub” and the “dub” sounds, then it meant that while the ventricle is contracting, some blood is being pushed back into the atria(s) because the tricuspid valve and/or the mitral valve(s) did not completely close, resulting in regurgitation. 

Example Question #13 : Understanding Heart Anatomy

When you listen to a beating heart, you will notice two sounds (“lub” and “dub”). The first sound (“lub”) is when the mitral and the tricuspid valves close at the same time. The second sound (“dub”) is due to the closing of the pulmonary and the aortic valves at the same time. In some heart conditions, one might hear an extra sound between the “lub” and the “dub” sounds.

In some heart conditions, one might hear a splitting sound during the “dub” sound. Which of the following choices is the most plausible explanation for the extra sound?

Possible Answers:

The mitral valve and the tricuspid valve did not close at the same time

The aortic and the pulmonary valves closed at the same time

The tricuspid and the pulmonary valves closed at the same time

The aortic and the pulmonary valves did not close at the same time

The mitral the pulmonary valves did not close at the same time

Correct answer:

The aortic and the pulmonary valves did not close at the same time

Explanation:

The “dub” sound occurs when both the aortic and the pulmonary valves close at the same time. When one closes later than the other, then the valve that closed late will create a splitting sound; therefore, creating an extra sound close to the first sound.

Example Question #14 : Understanding Heart Anatomy

When you listen to a beating heart, you will notice two sounds (“lub” and “dub”). The first sound (“lub”) is when the mitral and the tricuspid valves close at the same time. The second sound (“dub”) is due to the closing of the pulmonary and the aortic valves at the same time. In some heart conditions, one might hear an extra sound between the “lub” and the “dub” sounds.

In some heart conditions, one might hear a split sound during the “lub.” Which of the following choices is the most plausible explanation for the extra sound?

Possible Answers:

The mitral and the tricuspid valves closed at the same time

The mitral and the tricuspid valves did not close at the same time 

The aortic and the pulmonary valves did not close at the same time

The pulmonary and the mitral valves closed at the same time

The pulmonary and the tricuspid valves did not close at the same time 

Correct answer:

The mitral and the tricuspid valves did not close at the same time 

Explanation:

The "lub" heart sound occurs when both the mitral and the tricuspid valves close at the same time. If one hears a split sound, then it indicates that one of the two valves closed late.

Example Question #118 : Systems Physiology

The migration of cells is necessary for proper development during fetal life. At around the third week of fetal development, hematopoietic stem cells can be found in the yolk sac as well as in the mesoderm of the aorta, the gonads and in the mesonephros. At around the 3rd month, these stem cells migrate to the liver with some to the spleen and the lymph node. At around the 4thmonth, these cells then migrate to the bone marrow.

When taking a cross section of a bone, one will notice that some bone marrows are red while others are fat. Yellow bone marrows are inactive stem cells with the majority being fat cells. Active bone marrows are red. At birth, all of the bone marrows are red. At around the time of puberty, most are red but the amount decreases to 50% at around 18-25 years of age. Despite the change in bone marrow activity, membranous bones and of the arms of and legs remain active throughout life. However, the activity can be changed during pathological conditions. 

Which scenario(s) will result in the activation of inactive bone marrows? 

I. An injury resulting in minor bleeding of the pinky

II. An injury resulting in a rupture of the abdominal aorta

III. A paper cut of the 4th phalange  

Possible Answers:

III only

I and II

II and III

II only

I only

Correct answer:

I only

Explanation:

The activation of inactive bone marrows occur when the increase production of red blood cells is required. An major injury that result massive bleeding will reactive inactive bone marrows. Of the answer choices, a rupture of the abdominal aorta will result in massive internal bleeding. 

Example Question #21 : Understanding Heart Anatomy

In the heart, blood is oxygen-rich in the __________, and oxygen-poor in the __________.

Possible Answers:

superior vena cava . . . right ventricle 

left ventricle . . . aorta

pulmonary arteries . . . pulmonary veins

right atrium . . . left ventricle

left atrium . . . right atrium and right ventricle

Correct answer:

left atrium . . . right atrium and right ventricle

Explanation:

Blood is oxygenated in the lungs and pumped through the pulmonary veins to the left atrium of the heart. The blood is then pumped to the left ventricle, which pumps the oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. The oxygen-poor blood returns to the heart by entering the right atrium, and remains oxygen poor as it is pumped into the right ventricle and through the pulmonary arteries until it is oxygenated again in the lungs.

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