Key term
CCEA A-Level Biology 1010
Biological Molecules
Topic overviewWater as a solventInorganic ions and their rolesMonosaccharides and the glycosidic bondDisaccharides and polysaccharidesLipids, triglycerides and phospholipidsAmino acids and protein structureProtein shape, conjugated proteins and prionsNucleic acids: nucleotides, DNA and RNADNA replication and the Meselson–Stahl experimentBiochemical tests and paper chromatography
Enzymes
Topic overviewEnzymes as globular proteins and the active siteSpecificity, cofactors and coenzymesActivation energy and models of enzyme actionThe effect of temperature and pHThe effect of substrate and enzyme concentrationCompetitive and non-competitive inhibitionEnzymes as biomarkers of disease and inhibitors as drugsImmobilised enzymes and biosensors
Viruses and Cell Structure
Topic overviewBacteriophage and HIV structureViral replication in host cellsProkaryotic and eukaryotic cells comparedMembrane structure: the fluid mosaic modelFunctions of membrane componentsMitochondria and chloroplastsRibosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and lysosomesThe nucleus, the cytoskeleton and plasmodesmataPlant, fungal and animal cellsMicroscopy, cell measurement and cell fractionation
Cell Physiology and Transport
Continuity of Cells
Topic overviewThe cell cycle: interphase and the gap phasesControl points in the cell cycle and cancerChromosome structure, haploidy and diploidyMitosis: the events of the four stagesCytokinesis and the significance of mitosisAnticancer drugs and the cell cycleMeiosis I and the first divisionMeiosis II and the significance of meiosisPreparing and examining slides of cell division
Tissues and Organs
Exchange Surfaces and Gas Exchange
Topic overviewSurface area, volume and the surface area to volume ratioFeatures of efficient exchange surfacesThe need for mass transport systemsFick's law and the rate of gas exchangeGas exchange in plants and the compensation pointGas exchange at the alveolusThe respiratory tree and the mechanism of ventilationThe effects of smoking on the breathing systemUsing a respirometer to measure gas exchange
Transport in Plants
Topic overviewEpidermis, endodermis and the tissues of the rootXylem vessels and their lignification patternsPhloem: sieve-tube elements and companion cellsWater and mineral ion uptake by root hairsThe apoplast and symplast pathwaysTranspiration and the factors affecting its rateCohesion-tension theory and the transpiration streamTranslocation of organic solutes in the phloemXerophytes and hydrophytes
The Circulatory System in Mammals
Topic overviewDouble circulation and the major blood vesselsThe structure and function of arteries, veins and capillariesAtherosclerosis, atheroma and the investigation of blood vesselsThe structure of the mammalian heartThe cardiac cycle and the operation of the valvesMyogenic stimulation and the electrocardiogramBlood cells and the stained blood filmPlasma, tissue fluid and blood clottingHaemoglobin and the oxygen dissociation curveThe Bohr effect, myoglobin and altitude
Adaptation and Biodiversity
Topic overviewAdaptation and the ways organisms meet environmental challengesEcological factors and the ecological nicheSampling procedures and sampling devicesEstimating abundance, density, frequency and percentage coverThe biochemical basis of life and the levels of biodiversityMeasuring species diversity with Simpson's indexHandling data: averages, spread and the t-testTaxonomy, nomenclature and the binomial systemThe concept of a speciesThe taxonomic hierarchy from genus to kingdomPhylogenetic taxonomy and molecular evidenceThe five kingdom system: prokaryotae, protoctista and fungiPlantae, animalia and alternative classification systems
Human Impact on Biodiversity
Topic overviewMonoculture, polyculture and intensive agricultureCrop rotation and hedgerow conservationPredator strips, pesticides and integrated pest managementOrganic pollution of waterways by slurry and silage effluentEutrophication and fertiliser run-offBiological oxygen demand and reducing aquatic pollutionConservation initiatives and habitat protectionGlobal warming, climate change and biodiversity
Homeostasis and Excretion
Topic overviewPrinciples of homeostasis and negative feedbackExcretion, osmoregulation and nitrogenous wasteGross structure of the kidney and the urinary systemStructure of the nephron and its blood supplyEpithelia of the nephron and their adaptationsThe glomerular filterUltrafiltration and the forces that drive itSelective reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubuleThe loop of Henlé and the medullary salt gradientADH, osmoreceptors and the control of water balance
Immunity
Topic overviewNatural barriers to infectionAntigens, antibodies and the antigen–antibody reactionAntibody-mediated immunity and B-lymphocytesCell-mediated immunity and T-lymphocytesActive immunity, passive immunity and vaccinationTransplant rejection and immunosuppressionBlood group polymorphism and the rhesus factorTransfusion compatibility and its consequencesAntibiotic resistance and the search for new antimicrobialsELISA and the detection of disease biomarkers
Co-Ordination and Control
Topic overviewPhytochromes and the control of floweringPlant growth substances and stem elongationThe structure of a neuroneResting potential, threshold and the action potentialImpulse propagation and the speed of conductionSynapse structure and chemical transmissionExcitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentialsGross structure of the eye and accommodationThe retina, rods and conesSkeletal muscle and the sliding filament theory
Populations and Communities
Topic overviewPopulation growth curves, carrying capacity and environmental resistancer-selected and K-selected speciesInteractions between populationsBiological control of pest speciesPopulation dynamics and changes in population sizeEstimating population size in the field and the laboratoryCommunities and ecosystemsSuccession and climax communities
Ecological Energetics and Nutrient Cycling
Topic overviewFood chains, food webs and detritus food chainsTrophic levels, gross and net primary productionEcological pyramids and their usefulnessEnergy transfer efficiency between trophic levelsWhy energy is lost at each trophic levelImplications for agriculture and intensive farmingThe carbon cycleThe nitrogen cycle and the role of bacteria
Respiration
Topic overviewATP and the ATP/ADP cycleGlycolysisThe mitochondrion and the sites of aerobic respirationThe link reaction and the Krebs cycleThe electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylationATP yield from one molecule of glucoseAnaerobic respiration in animals, plants and fungiAerobic and anaerobic respiration compared, and oxygen debtRespiratory quotient and measuring respiration
Photosynthesis
Topic overviewChloroplast structure and the sites of photosynthesisPhotosynthetic pigments and paper chromatographyAbsorption spectra and action spectraPhotosystems, photoactivation and the Z-schemePhotolysis of water, reduced NADP and redox indicatorsCarbon dioxide fixation and rubiscoReduction of glycerate phosphate and regeneration of ribulose bisphosphateLimiting factors, the compensation point and measuring photosynthesis
DNA as the Genetic Code
Topic overviewGenes and the nature of the genetic codeExons, introns and RNA splicingComparing DNA and RNATranscription and RNA polymeraseTransfer RNA, ribosomes and the sites of translationTranslation and polypeptide synthesisOne gene, one polypeptide and the control of the phenotypeEpigenetics, methylation and histone modification
Gene Technology
Topic overviewThe polymerase chain reactionDNA probes and genetic markersMicroarrays, pharmacogenetics and personalised medicineGenetic fingerprinting and gel electrophoresisThe stages of gene transferGenetically modified microorganismsTransgenic animals and plantsGene therapyGenome sequencing and the Human Genome ProjectGene inactivation and knockout organismsSocial, ethical and ecological issues of gene technology
Genes and Patterns of Inheritance
Topic overviewGenotype, phenotype and the environmentChromosomes, genes and allelesMonohybrid inheritance and Mendel's first lawCodominance, multiple alleles and lethal allelesTest crossesDihybrid inheritance and Mendel's second lawAutosomes, sex chromosomes and sex determinationGene interaction and epistasisPolygenic inheritance and continuous variationThe chi-squared test
Population Genetics and Evolution
Evolutionary Trends in Plants
The Circulatory System in Mammals
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- Unit AS 2
What The Circulatory System in Mammals covers
The Circulatory System in Mammals is examined in Unit AS 2, Organisms and Biodiversity, and drawn on again in Unit AS 3, the practical skills examination. It covers double circulation and the major blood vessels, the structure and function of arteries, veins and capillaries, atherosclerosis, atheroma and the investigation of blood vessels, the structure of the mammalian heart, the cardiac cycle and the operation of the valves, myogenic stimulation and the electrocardiogram, blood cells and the stained blood film, plasma, tissue fluid and blood clotting, haemoglobin and the oxygen dissociation curve and the Bohr effect, myoglobin and altitude.
Where it is assessed
Unit AS 2
Organisms and Biodiversity, and again in Unit AS 3, Practical Skills in AS Biology.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Double circulation and the major blood vesselsDouble circulation, why the pulmonary artery is unusual among arteries and vessels that carry blood to and from the kidney.Open →
- The structure and function of arteries, veins and capillariesTissue that lines the lumen of every blood vessel, wall of a capillary and why a capillary wall is so thin.Open →
- Atherosclerosis, atheroma and the investigation of blood vesselsHow an atheroma begins to form in an artery wall, why atherosclerosis raises blood pressure and how atherosclerosis of a coronary artery causes angina.Open →
- The structure of the mammalian heartFour chambers of the mammalian heart, why the walls of the atria are thin and interventricular septum.Open →
- The cardiac cycle and the operation of the valvesWhat happens during diastole, what happens during atrial systole and what happens during ventricular systole.Open →
- Myogenic stimulation and the electrocardiogramImportance of the delay imposed at the atrioventricular node and advantage of the ventricles contracting from the apex upwards.Open →
- Blood cells and the stained blood filmShape of a red blood cell and state its advantage, appearance of a polymorph in a stained blood film and function of a polymorph.Open →
- Plasma, tissue fluid and blood clottingTissue fluid, role of thromboplastin in blood clotting and role of thrombin in blood clotting.Open →
- Haemoglobin and the oxygen dissociation curveProsthetic group of haemoglobin, compound formed when haemoglobin combines with oxygen and partial pressure of oxygen.Open →
- The Bohr effect, myoglobin and altitudeShift of the dissociation curve to the right, physiological advantage of the Bohr effect to a hard-working muscle and why athletes train at high altitude before an important competition.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
What is an artery wall made of, how does a capillary wall differ, and what is vasoconstriction?
Evaluation
Explain the physiological advantage of the Bohr effect to a hard-working muscle.
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What is an atheroma?
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Which chambers of the heart receive blood, and from where?
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Name the three phases of the cardiac cycle in the order in which they occur.
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Where is the sinoatrial node located?
Evaluation
Describe the shape of a red blood cell and state its advantage.
Key term
What is plasma?
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Name the prosthetic group of haemoglobin.
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What is meant by a double circulation?
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Name the tissue that lines the lumen of every blood vessel.
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Describe how an atheroma begins to form in an artery wall.
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Explain why the walls of the atria are thin.
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Describe what happens during diastole.
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Why can the wave of excitation not pass directly from the atria to the ventricles?
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Give one adaptation of a red blood cell other than its shape or lack of nucleus.
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Name three dissolved substances transported by plasma that come from the digestive system or from metabolism.
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Which metal ion does a haem group contain?
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What does a shift of the dissociation curve to the right mean for the saturation of haemoglobin?
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Why must the blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation be lower than that in the systemic circulation?
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Name the three kinds of tissue found in the wall of an artery in addition to its lining.
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Explain why atherosclerosis raises blood pressure.
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Explain why the wall of the left ventricle is thicker than that of the right.
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Describe what happens during atrial systole.
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Where is the atrioventricular node found?
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Which protein fills the cytoplasm of a red blood cell?
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Which respiratory gas is carried mainly in the plasma rather than by the red blood cells?
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How many haem groups does one molecule of haemoglobin contain?
Key term
Explain how a fall in pH affects the release of oxygen from haemoglobin.
Take The Circulatory System in Mammals further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is meant by a double circulation?
Model answer
A double circulation is one in which the blood passes through the heart twice for every complete circuit of the body.
- 2
Name the two circuits that make up the mammalian double circulation.
Model answer
They are the pulmonary circulation, which serves the lungs, and the systemic circulation, which serves the rest of the body.
- 3
State the main advantage of a double circulation over a single one.
Model answer
The pressure of the blood is restored by the heart after it has passed through the lungs, so it can be delivered to the body tissues rapidly and at high pressure.
- 4
Why must the blood pressure in the pulmonary circulation be lower than that in the systemic circulation?
Model answer
The delicate capillaries around the alveoli would be damaged by high pressure, and slower flow allows more time for gas exchange.
- 5
Which vessel carries blood from the left ventricle to the body?
Model answer
The aorta carries blood from the left ventricle to the body.
- 6
Name the vessels that return deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium.
Model answer
The superior and inferior venae cavae return deoxygenated blood to the right atrium.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
The Circulatory System in Mammals revision questions
- What does The Circulatory System in Mammals cover in CCEA A-Level Biology?
- 10 subtopics: double circulation and the major blood vessels, the structure and function of arteries, veins and capillaries, atherosclerosis, atheroma and the investigation of blood vessels, the structure of the mammalian heart, the cardiac cycle and the operation of the valves, myogenic stimulation and the electrocardiogram, blood cells and the stained blood film, plasma, tissue fluid and blood clotting, haemoglobin and the oxygen dissociation curve and the bohr effect, myoglobin and altitude. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is The Circulatory System in Mammals organised?
- By the CCEA 1010 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in The Circulatory System in Mammals, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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