AQA A Level PE – The Cardiovascular System Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• What device is used to measure blood pressure in a clinical setting?
• Which receptors located in the carotid arteries sense chemical changes and stimulate heart rate when carbon dioxide increases during exercise?
• The major mechanism promoting venous return by the contracting muscles squeezing the veins as they change shape is:
• What is the role of capillary density in exercise adaptations?
• Systolic blood pressure is the pressure during ventricular contraction.
• Which system consists of the CNS and the Peripheral Nervous System and is controlled by the Cardiac Control Centre?
• Which vessel exits the left ventricle to supply the body?
• Which lipoprotein is the 'good' cholesterol that transports excess cholesterol back to the liver where it is broken down?
• A type of stroke that occurs when a weakened blood vessel supplying to brain bursts.
• Between the Right Atrium and the Right Ventricle.
• Which term describes the heart's conduction system that generates rhythm and pace?
• Which term explains the relationship between venous return and the strength of ventricular contraction?
• How is heart rate estimated in the absence of direct measurement, and what are its limitations?
• Which layer forms the outer surface of the heart?
• What is the role of chemoreceptors in exercise responses?
• How much the cardiac tissue can stretch during the diastole phase is described by which term?
• Which is the smaller chamber of the heart with thinner walls?
• Which process describes the release of oxygen from haemoglobin to tissues?
• Which term describes the widening of venous vessels?
• Which vessel returns deoxygenated blood to the right atrium?
• Which phase of the cardiac cycle involves ventricular ejection of blood into the aorta and pulmonary arteries?
• RPP is a measure used in exercise physiology. What does RPP primarily indicate?
• Which term describes the system consisting of all the blood vessels?
• The liquid component of blood that primarily transports nutrients, hormones, and wastes is known as what?
• Define lactate threshold and its relevance to performance.
• Which condition leads to extra strain on arteries and heart, increasing risk of heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease, stroke or dementia?
• What is the body's transport system called?
• Which part of the Nervous System consists of the Brain and Spinal Cord?
• During which phase are the ventricles relaxed with all valves closed?
• The percentage of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each beat is known as what?
• Which statement best differentiates central and peripheral adaptations to training?
• The amount of resistance in the circulatory system during venous return is known as:
• Exits the Right Ventricle with deoxygenated blood, to go to the lungs. Only artery to carry deoxygenated blood.
• What centre coordinates autonomic control of the heart, receiving input from sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways?
• Which structure divides the heart into two halves?
• Cardiac output is calculated as heart rate multiplied by stroke volume.
• Lactate clearance is primarily supported by which organs during recovery?
• What is the role of the pulmonary system in supporting cardiovascular responses during exercise?
• Which phase of the heartbeat is the heart contracting?
• The fluid part of blood (mainly water) that surrounds blood cells and transports them is known as:
• During exercise, how is peripheral resistance modulated in active muscles versus nonessential tissues?
• Which valve prevents backflow from the left ventricle into the left atrium?
• The expression used to describe the pressure gradient in venous return is:
• Exits the Left Ventricle with oxygenated blood, to go to the body.
• Which vessel brings oxygenated blood to the left atrium and is the only vein to carry oxygenated blood?
• How does chronic training typically affect resting heart rate?
• What does the a-vO2 difference measure in physiology?
• What are the largest blood vessels that spread away from the heart and branch into arterioles and capillaries?
• What term describes narrowing of venous blood vessel walls?
• Which circulation carries oxygenated blood to the body from the heart and returns deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart?
• What is the volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute called?
• Which statement best describes the oxygen transport pathway from the atmosphere to mitochondria in muscle?
• Which vessels connect arteries to capillaries as they narrow in size?
• Which hormone released by the sympathetic nerves during exercise increases heart rate?
• What is the effect of plasma volume expansion on training adaptations?
• Which statement best describes eccentric hypertrophy in comparison to concentric hypertrophy?
• Which condition occurs when arteries harden and narrow due to fatty deposits?
• The Cardiac Control Centre is located in which part of the brain?
• Which term describes the heart's ability to generate its own impulses?
• During exercise, which factor primarily causes vasodilation in active muscles?
• Which vessels flow into the Right Atrium from the body via the inferior or superior vena cava?
• The pressure in the Right Atrium is:
• Which of the following is a valid field test for cardiovascular fitness commonly used in A Level practice?
• What term describes widening of venous blood vessels?
• During heat stress in exercise, which of the following best describes the cardiovascular response?
• Which mechanism redistributes cardiac output, directing more blood to skeletal muscles during exercise?
• Training influences venous compliance by which of the following?
• Which transporter binds and carries oxygen in the blood from lungs to tissues?
• Persistent high blood pressure can lead to damage to which organ?
• Which valve is located between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery?
• Describe the Fick principle in relation to oxygen consumption (VO2).
• Which peripheral adaptation most directly improves oxygen extraction in working muscle?
• Which sensory nerve endings are located in the muscles, tendons and joints to provide information about movements and body position?
• Which concept involves the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in control of the heart?
• Venous return mechanism located in the veins that prevents back flow and closes after blood passes is:
• Which muscle is involuntary and found in the walls of blood vessels?
• Endurance training increases plasma volume. How does this affect hematocrit and blood viscosity?
• What term describes the volume of blood pumped out by the heart ventricles per minute?
• Which vessel leaves the left ventricle to supply the body?
• What term describes a measure of acidity with a scale of 1 to 14?
• Which of the following describes how the cardiovascular system supports high-intensity interval training (HIIT)?
• During exercise testing, which finding could indicate cardiovascular disease risk?
• What does an increasing a-vO2 difference during exercise indicate?
• Volume of blood returning to the right side of the heart via the vena cava is known as what?
• During exercise, the redistribution of cardiac output directs more blood to skeletal muscles to meet oxygen demand. What is this mechanism called?
• What is angina?
• During which phase of the cardiac cycle does the heart relax to allow filling with blood?
• Which pigment stores oxygen in muscle and is more abundant in slow-twitch fibres?
• Which mechanism promotes venous return through changes in intrathoracic pressure during breathing?
• The pressure in the arteries when the ventricles are contracting is known as:
• During exercise, how does autonomic input change to heart rate?
• Which condition involves fatty deposits in arterial walls that can contribute to reduced blood flow?
• Which of the following is a chronic adaptation to regular training?
• Increased venous return leading to greater diastolic filling and a higher force of contraction is described by which principle?
• Which vessel type has thick elastic walls to withstand high pressures?
• What term describes the matching of ventilation to perfusion in the lungs?
• Why is lactate clearance important for recovery, and how is it influenced by cardiovascular adaptations?
• What is blood pressure?
• The pressure in veins bringing blood back to the heart is known as:
• Right Atrial Pressure refers to the pressure inside which heart chamber?
• What is the function of the endocardium?
• What is the term for the difference between the oxygen content of arterial blood arriving at the muscles and the venous blood leaving the muscles?
• Which is the larger chamber of the heart with thicker muscular walls?
• Which lipoprotein transports cholesterol from tissues to the liver for breakdown?
• Which term best describes the movement of blood through the heart from atria to ventricles?
• The pressure in the arteries when the ventricles are relaxing is known as:
• Which term describes the release of oxygen from oxyhaemoglobin to tissues?
• Which circulation delivers blood to all body tissues excluding the lungs?
• Which chamber receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins?
• Which stroke type results from rupture of a weakened blood vessel?
• Which statement best describes the role of High Density Lipoproteins?
• Most common form of a stroke and occurs when a blood clot stops the blood supply to the brain.
• Which statement best describes eccentric hypertrophy?
• Which pump is driven by changes in thoracic and abdominal pressure during breathing?
• Which vessel carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart's left atrium?
• Rate-pressure product (RPP) is calculated as which of the following?
• What is venous pooling and how can it be prevented during exercise?
• Stroke volume is influenced by preload, afterload, and contractility.
• Which statement about oxygen diffusion during gas exchange is true?
• What term describes the shift in haemoglobin-oxygen affinity due to increased CO2 and decreased pH during exercise?
• Blood pressure is typically measured using which device, and what does systolic pressure represent?
• A fatty deposit found in the inner lining of an artery is known as what?
• Which describes exercise where the heart rate rises to meet oxygen demands and then declines gradually after exercise ends?
• What role does the cardiovascular system play in thermoregulation during exercise?
• How does training influence resting and maximal blood pressure, and why?
• Which term refers to enlargement of the heart muscle that may accompany an increased ventricular cavity?
• The thickening of the heart muscle that increases its size and strength is called what?
• Bohr effect describes decreased hemoglobin affinity for O2 under conditions of higher CO2, lower pH, and higher temperature.
• What term is used for a resting heart rate below 60 bpm?
• How does training typically affect maximal cardiac output and stroke volume?
• Which stroke is the most common form?
• Which of the following is a laboratory method to assess cardiovascular fitness?
• What is the role of capillarisation in HIIT adaptations?
• Occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off.
• Which cellular organelle is responsible for aerobic energy production in cells?
• Which statement best describes how the respiratory and cardiovascular systems interact to meet elevated oxygen demands during sustained exercise?
• Which statement about RER is true?
• Steady state of oxygen uptake occurs when?
• An increase in blood CO2 and a decrease in pH reduces haemoglobin's affinity for oxygen. What is this effect called?
• What term describes a resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute?
• What is the term for the sequence SAN - Atrial Systole - AVN - Bundle of His - Purkinje Fibres - Ventricular Systole?
• Which valve prevents backflow from the right ventricle into the right atrium?
• Cardiovascular drift: a progressive rise in heart rate as stroke volume falls.
• What is the vascular system called that carries blood through the body delivering oxygen and nutrients and removing waste?
• How does blood viscosity influence vascular resistance and blood flow?
• The Cardiac Control Centre modulates heart rate through which division of the nervous system?
• Which circulation moves deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood to the heart?
• Which term describes the state of the heart muscle thickening due to training, potentially with a larger ventricular cavity?
• Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is approximated by which expression?
• Pocket valves are valves located in veins that prevent backflow. Which statement best describes their function?
• Which layer is the muscular layer that contracts to pump blood?
• Which statement best describes concentric hypertrophy and its potential effects?
• What is the part of the nervous system that consists of the nerve cells to transmit information to and from the CNS called?
• Which pigment is an iron-containing pigment found in red blood cells that binds with oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin?
• If plasma volume increases, what is the effect on venous return?
• Which term describes how the heart beats via its own conduction system?
• Which structures protect the heart and reduce friction?
• Regulate blood flow by ensuring that it moves in one direction. They open to allow blood to pass through, and then close to prevent back flow.
• Which vessels are the smallest and the site of exchange with tissues?
• Explain how plasma volume expansion reduces the risk of heat illness during endurance events.
• Which structure receives inputs from receptors to adjust heart rate and acts as the cardiac control centre?
• The number of times the heart beats per minute is called what?
• What is the measure of acidity with a scale from 1 to 14, where values below 7 indicate acidity?
• The phrase 'In through Atria and OUT through Ventricles' describes what?
• Which organelle is the powerhouse of the cell where aerobic respiration occurs and energy is produced?
• Which valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle?
• Which lipoprotein is the 'bad' cholesterol that leads to increased risk of heart disease and transports cholesterol in the blood to tissues?
• Which describes exercise at maximal intensity with a sharp rise in heart rate followed by rapid decline after exercise stops?
• The volume of blood pumped out by the heart ventricles in each contraction is called what?
• What term describes narrowing of arteriolar walls?
• What term describes widening of arteriolar blood vessels?
• The total blood flow from the heart per minute is called what?
• Which iron-containing pigment is found in slow-twitch muscle fibres where oxygen is stored?
• Which receptors respond to arterial wall stretch and detect changes in blood pressure?
• Muscles contract and relax during breathing in and out. Pressure changes occur in the thoracic and abdominal cavities. The changes in the pressure compress the nearby veins and assist blood returning to the heart is: