AQA GCSE Biology (8461), Higher tier · Organisation › Animal tissues, organs and organ systems
Practise Coronary heart disease. 11 exam-style questions plus unlimited generated ones on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
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Name the device that is used to keep a coronary artery open.
stent
The statements describe how CHD can lead to a heart attack. They are not in the correct order. A Less blood flows through the coronary arteries. B Layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries. C The heart muscle does not get enough oxygen. D The coronary arteries become narrower. Write the letters in the correct order.
B, D, A, C
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy5 marks
Coronary heart disease is a non-communicable disease.
(a) Which statement describes what happens in coronary heart disease? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
Layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries.
The heart valves become too large.
Red blood cells stick together in the veins.
The pacemaker cells stop working.
(b) Name the device that is used to keep a coronary artery open.[1]
(c) Name the type of drug that is used to reduce the concentration of cholesterol in the blood.[1]
(d) Faulty heart valves can be replaced. Give the two types of replacement valve.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: Layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries.
(b)Answer: stent
stent
(c)Answer: statins
statin(s)
(d)
biological (valve)
mechanical (valve)
Question 2Medium6 marks
Coronary heart disease can lead to a heart attack.
(a) Explain how coronary heart disease can cause damage to the heart muscle.[3]
(b) Explain how statins reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.[2]
(c) Give one disadvantage of treating coronary heart disease with statins.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
fatty material builds up and narrows the coronary arteries
so less blood flows to the heart muscle
so the muscle cells get less oxygen for (aerobic) respiration and may be damaged / die
(b)
statins reduce the concentration of cholesterol in the blood
which slows down the rate at which fatty material is deposited in the arteries
(c)
possible side effects (e.g. muscle pain / liver problems) / they must be taken regularly for life / they take time to have an effect
Question 3Hard7 marks
A patient has heart failure. The patient may be given a donor heart in a transplant. An artificial heart may be used to keep the patient alive while they wait for a donor heart.
(a) Give two disadvantages of a heart transplant.[2]
(b) Of 250 patients who had a heart transplant at one hospital, 180 were still alive after 5 years. Calculate the percentage of patients who were still alive after 5 years.[1]
(c) Artificial hearts are also occasionally used to allow the patient's own heart to rest. Suggest why this can help the patient.[1]
(d) Some people suggest that artificial hearts should be used as a permanent replacement instead of donor hearts. Evaluate this suggestion.[3]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)
shortage of donors / long waiting time
risk of rejection, so drugs to suppress the immune system must be taken for life
increased risk of infection (from these drugs)
risks of major surgery
(b)Answer: 72%
(180 ÷ 250 × 100 =) 72 (%)
(c)
the heart can recover / repair while it does not have to pump blood
(d)
for: no need to wait for a donor
for: no rejection, so no need for immune-suppressing drugs
against: risk of blood clots / infection / device failure
against: needs a power supply / may limit movement / expensive
conclusion: currently better as a short-term treatment (while waiting for a transplant)