Free Blood vessels questions for IGCSE Biology (0610), part of Transport. Each question has the answer and the marking points an examiner would look for.
Generate a full Blood Vessels worksheet →All Transport questionsWhich row describes an artery?
| wall | lumen | valves | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | thick, muscular and elastic | wide | present |
| B | thin | wide | present |
| C | thick, muscular and elastic | narrow | absent |
| D | one cell thick | very narrow | absent |
Answer: C
Which blood vessels contain valves?
Answer: D
Blood flows through the body in a specific sequence of vessels.
Name the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the lungs.
Name the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the kidneys.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | pulmonary artery; pulmonary vein pulmonary artery (to the lungs) B1 pulmonary vein (from the lungs) B1 | 2 |
| (b) | renal artery; renal vein renal artery B1 renal vein B1 | 2 |
This question is about blood vessels.
Describe two differences between the structure of an artery and a vein.
Explain how the structure of an artery is related to its function.
Explain why veins contain valves.
Explain how capillaries are adapted for the exchange of substances with tissues.
Name the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the kidneys and to the lungs.
Explain why the pulmonary vein is unusual among veins.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | artery thick muscular elastic wall, narrow lumen; vein thin wall, wide lumen, valves Any 2 of: arteries have thick, muscular, elastic walls, veins thin walls; arteries have a narrow lumen, veins wide; veins have valves B2 | 2 |
| (b) | thick muscular and elastic wall withstands high pressure; elastic recoil maintains pressure / smooths flow blood leaves the heart at high pressure B1 thick muscle and elastic tissue withstand the pressure B1 elastic recoil keeps the blood flowing between beats B1 | 3 |
| (c) | blood at low pressure; valves prevent backflow blood in veins is at low pressure B1 valves prevent backflow B1 | 2 |
| (d) | wall one cell thick; short diffusion distance; narrow, slow blood flow; large network surface area wall one cell thick so a short diffusion distance B1 narrow lumen so blood flows slowly / red cells close to tissue B1 large network gives large surface area B1 | 3 |
| (e) | renal artery; renal vein; pulmonary artery renal artery (to kidney) B1 renal vein (from kidney) B1 pulmonary artery (to lungs) B1 | 3 |
| (f) | carries oxygenated blood it carries oxygenated blood (from the lungs to the heart) B1 | 1 |
Arteries, veins and capillaries have different structures.
Explain how the structure of an artery is related to its function.
Explain why veins have valves.
Explain how capillaries are adapted for exchange.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | thick muscular elastic walls withstand high pressure thick, muscular and elastic walls B1 to withstand and maintain high blood pressure B1 | 2 |
| (b) | prevent backflow at low pressure to prevent backflow of blood (low pressure) B1 | 1 |
| (c) | one cell thick; narrow; many walls one cell thick for short diffusion distance B1 large numbers give a large surface area B1 | 2 |
Blood pressure varies through the circulation.
Explain why blood pressure is highest in the arteries.
Describe how blood is kept moving in veins at low pressure.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | blood pumped directly from ventricles blood is pumped directly from the ventricles at high pressure B1 | 1 |
| (b) | valves; contraction of skeletal muscles valves prevent backflow B1 contraction of surrounding skeletal muscles squeezes the veins B1 | 2 |
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Meet Riyaz →Original Cambridge-style practice questions written for mentorriyaz.in. These are not Cambridge past paper questions, and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Updated 2026-11-04. Paper generator · mentorriyaz.in