A Level Biology H3 Human Physiology Quiz

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A-Level Biology H3 Quiz - Human Physiology

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Duration: 60 minutes
Total Marks: 40
Instructions: Answer all 20 questions. Section A consists of short structured items. Section B requires applied explanation. Section C involves data handling and synthesis. Use clear biological terminology and show working where requested.

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Section A: Knowledge and Direct Application (Questions 1–8)

1. State the ions primarily responsible for depolarisation and repolarisation during an action potential in a myelinated neurone. [2]

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2. Using the fluid mosaic model, identify two components of the plasma membrane that allow selective permeability. [2]

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3. Define homeostasis in the context of mammalian physiology. [1]

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4. Name the neurotransmitter released at a cholinergic synapse and state the ion that enters the presynaptic terminal to trigger its release. [2]

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5. Give one structural adaptation of C4 plant leaves that reduces photorespiration. [1]

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6. State the process by which CAM plants separate initial carbon fixation from the Calvin cycle temporally. [1]

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7. Identify the type of feedback mechanism most commonly used in physiological homeostasis and give one example. [2]

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8. Name the specialised cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin and state the stimulus for their secretion. [2]

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Section B: Applied Explanation (Questions 9–14)

9. Explain how the structure of a myelinated neurone supports saltatory conduction and why this increases transmission speed. [4]

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10. Describe the sequence of events at a cholinergic synapse from action potential arrival to postsynaptic depolarisation, including the role of Ca²⁺. [4]

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11. Compare the roles of innate and adaptive immunity in defending against a bacterial pathogen, highlighting one way they are interdependent. [4]

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12. Explain how DNA methylation can alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence, with reference to transcriptional access. [3]

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13. A patient has low blood glucose after excessive insulin injection. Describe the negative feedback loop involving glucagon that restores homeostasis. [3]

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14. Suggest how the human microbiota contributes to immunity and nutrition. [3]

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Section C: Data Handling and Synthesis (Questions 15–20)

15. The table below shows resting membrane potential (mV) and action potential peak (mV) for three neuron types.

Neuron	Resting (mV)	Peak (mV)
A	-70	+35
B	-65	+40
C	-75	+30

Calculate the depolarisation amplitude for each neuron. [3]

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16. In an experiment, a student records the following heart rates (beats per min) before and after exercise: Rest = 72, Exercise = 138. Calculate the percentage increase in heart rate. [2]

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17. The graph described below shows oxygen dissociation curves for maternal and fetal haemoglobin at 37 °C.

Image pending generation: graph for Q17.

Explain why the fetal haemoglobin curve lies to the left of maternal haemoglobin and state the physiological advantage. [3]

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18. A C4 plant and a C3 plant are placed at 35 °C with identical light. The C4 plant maintains higher photosynthetic rate. Using spatial separation of initial fixation, explain this outcome. [3]

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19. The following data show blood glucose (mmol/L) over 4 hours after a meal in a healthy subject: 0 min = 6.0, 30 min = 7.8, 60 min = 6.5, 120 min = 5.4, 240 min = 5.0. Plot a simple line description and state the hormone responsible for the fall after 30 min. [3]

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20. Evaluate the significance of epigenetic modifications for organismal response to climate change, using one example from human physiology or plant adaptation. [4]

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A-Level Biology H3 Quiz - Human Physiology (Answer Key)

Total Marks: 40
Section A (Q1–8): 13 marks
Section B (Q9–14): 21 marks
Section C (Q15–20): 18 marks

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Q1. [2 marks]
Na⁺ (sodium ions) responsible for depolarisation; K⁺ (potassium ions) responsible for repolarisation.
Teaching note: During depolarisation, voltage-gated Na⁺ channels open and Na⁺ influx reverses membrane potential. Repolarisation occurs as K⁺ channels open and K⁺ efflux restores negative interior.

Q2. [2 marks]
Any two of: phospholipid bilayer (hydrophobic core limits polar passage); channel proteins (selective ion passage); carrier proteins (facilitated diffusion); glycoproteins (recognition, not directly permeability but part of mosaic).
Marking: 1 mark each component named and linked to selective permeability.

Q3. [1 mark]
Maintenance of a stable internal environment despite external change.

Q4. [2 marks]
Acetylcholine; Ca²⁺ enters presynaptic terminal.
Note: Ca²⁺ influx triggers vesicle fusion and exocytosis of acetylcholine.

Q5. [1 mark]
e.g. bundle sheath cells separate from mesophyll (spatial separation of PEP carboxylase and Rubisco).

Q6. [1 mark]
Nocturnal stomatal opening for initial fixation into malate; Calvin cycle by day.

Q7. [2 marks]
Negative feedback; example: insulin reducing blood glucose after meal.
Common mistake: stating positive feedback without example.

Q8. [2 marks]
Beta cells (β-cells) of islets of Langerhans; high blood glucose concentration.

Q9. [4 marks]

• Myelin sheath formed by Schwann cells/oligodendrocytes insulates axon (1).
• Nodes of Ranvier expose membrane with high Na⁺ channels (1).
• Action potential jumps node to node (saltatory) (1).
• Increases speed by reducing continuous depolarisation needed (1).
  Teaching: Saltatory from Latin saltare = leap.

Q10. [4 marks]

• AP arrives, depolarises terminal (1)
• Voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels open, Ca²⁺ enters (1)
• Vesicles fuse, acetylcholine released (1)
• ACh binds receptors, Na⁺ influx depolarises postsynaptic (1).

Q11. [4 marks]

• Innate: barrier, phagocytosis, inflammation (1)
• Adaptive: B/T cells, antibodies (1)
• Interdependent: innate presents antigen to adaptive via APC (1)
• Example given (1).

Q12. [3 marks]

• Methyl groups added to cytosine (1)
• Recruits proteins that condense chromatin (1)
• Blocks transcription factor access, reduces expression (1).

Q13. [3 marks]

• Low glucose detected by α-cells (1)
• Glucagon secreted, liver glycogenolysis (1)
• Blood glucose rises, inhibits glucagon (negative feedback) (1).

Q14. [3 marks]

• Competes with pathogens (1)
• Produces vitamins e.g. K (1)
• Trains immune system (1).

Q15. [3 marks]
Amplitude = Peak – Resting (magnitude).
A: 35 – (–70) = 105 mV
B: 40 – (–65) = 105 mV
C: 30 – (–75) = 105 mV
All 105 mV; 1 mark each.

Q16. [2 marks]
Increase = (138 – 72)/72 × 100 = 91.7% ≈ 92%.
Working shown for 1 mark, final for 1.

Q17. [3 marks]

• Fetal Hb has higher affinity (left shift) due to different subunits (2,2,γ,γ) (1)
• Advantage: extracts O₂ from maternal at low pO2 (1)
• Left shift shown in placeholder (1).

Q18. [3 marks]

• C4 uses PEP carboxylase in mesophyll, no photorespiration at high T (1)
• Bundle sheath concentrates CO₂ for Rubisco (1)
• C3 suffers photorespiration, lower rate (1).

Q19. [3 marks]
Description: rise then fall to baseline. Hormone: insulin.

• Plot points (1), state trend (1), insulin (1).

Q20. [4 marks]

• Epigenetics allows reversible change without DNA seq (1)
• Example: plant flowering time shift via methylation with temperature (2)
• Significance: rapid adaptation (1).