AQA GCSE Biology

Heart structure & function

AQA GCSE Biology revision on Heart structure & function. Aligned to the AQA GCSE Biology 8461 specification. This bank has 25 practice questions on this topic.

Sample questions (3 of 25)

  1. Question 1

    Which component of the heart is responsible for generating the electrical impulse that sets the rhythm of cardiac contraction?

    • A) Atrioventricular node
    • B) Pacemaker region
    • C) Septum wall tissue
    • D) Bundle of His cells
    Show answer

    Answer: Pacemaker region

    The pacemaker is a group of cells located in the right atrium that acts as the heart's natural rhythm controller. It sends out regular electrical impulses that cause the heart muscles to contract in a coordinated manner. If this region fails, artificial pacemakers are often required to regulate the heart rate.

  2. Question 2

    Why is the muscular wall of the left ventricle significantly thicker than that of the right ventricle?

    • A) To withstand low pressure
    • B) To pump blood systemically
    • C) To hold more blood volume
    • D) To assist valve closure
    Show answer

    Answer: To pump blood systemically

    The left ventricle is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood through the aorta to all organs and tissues in the body. Because the systemic circulation requires much higher pressure than the pulmonary circulation, the left ventricle requires a thicker muscular wall to generate the necessary force. The right ventricle only needs to pump blood to the nearby lungs.

  3. Question 3

    Which blood vessel carries deoxygenated blood directly from the heart to the lungs?

    • A) Pulmonary artery
    • B) Vena cava vessel
    • C) Pulmonary vein
    • D) Coronary artery
    Show answer

    Answer: Pulmonary artery

    Most arteries carry oxygenated blood, but the pulmonary artery is an exception as it carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for gas exchange. The vena cava brings blood into the heart, while the pulmonary vein returns oxygenated blood to the left atrium.

Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?

22 more questions on Heart structure & function — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Biology spec.

Start a free session → Already have an account? Log in

More AQA Biology topics