BIOL EXAM TEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 2022
UPDATE SUCCESS ASSUARED
What sequence of events describes how the nervous system works? – ANSWER: Stimulus → receptor →
coordinator → effector → response
What is a reflex action? - ANSWERA reflex action is an automatic and rapid response which does not
involve any conscious input from the brain.
Why are reflex actions important? – ANSWER: Reflex actions aid survival by preventing harm to the body.
Describe how a reflex action occurs via a reflex arc - ANSWER● The stimulus is detected by a receptor.
● An electrical impulse passes along a sensory neurone to the spinal cord (part of the CNS).
● At a synapse between a sensory neurone and a relay neurone, a chemical diffuses across the gap
and stimulates a new impulse which passes along the relay neurone.
● The same process occurs at a synapse between a relay neurone and a motor neurone.
● At the effector, an appropriate response is carried out.
What is the difference between a reflex pathway and a conscious pathway? - ANSWERWithin a reflex
pathway, the coordination centre is a relay neurone found in the spinal cord/unconscious parts of the
brain. In a conscious pathway, the coordination centre is in the conscious part of the brain.
Where is body temperature controlled in the body? - ANSWERBody temperature is controlled by the
thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus of the brain.
How is temperature monitored by the body? - ANSWER● Thermoregulatory centre has receptors
sensitive to blood temperature.
● Skin has receptors sensitive to skin temperature - sends impulses to thermoregulatory centre.
,BIOL EXAM TEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 2022
UPDATE SUCCESS ASSUARED
What physiological changes occur when the body temperature is too high? - ANSWER● Vasodilation -
blood vessels near the surface of the skin dilate - more heat is radiated away.
● Sweating - evaporation of water takes away heat energy from the surface of the skin.
What physiological changes occur when the body temperature is too low? - ANSWER● Vasoconstriction -
blood vessels near the surface of the skin constrict - less heat radiated away.
● Shivering - respiration allows muscles to contract. It is an exothermic process, so heat energy
is released.
● Sweating stops.
Give the name of the body's coordination system which involves hormones - ANSWERThe endocrine
system
What is a hormone? - ANSWERA hormone is a chemical messenger secreted by a gland. It travels in the
blood to a target organ, where it causes a response.
What type of organ secretes hormones? - ANSWERGlands
Which gland controls many other glands in the body? - ANSWERThe pituitary gland
Why is the pituitary gland considered a 'master gland'? - ANSWERIt secretes a wide range of hormones,
some of which may stimulate other endocrine glands.
What is the role of the pituitary gland in the endocrine system? - ANSWER● Secretes human growth
hormone - controls human growth.
● Stimulates the thyroid gland.
● Stimulates ovulation and the production of oestrogen in the ovaries.
● Stimulates the production of sperm and testosterone in the testes.
, BIOL EXAM TEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 2022
UPDATE SUCCESS ASSUARED
What is the role of the thyroid gland in the endocrine system? - ANSWERSecretes the hormone thyroxine
- controls metabolism, heart rate and body temperature.
What is the role of the pancreas in the endocrine system? - ANSWERSecretes the hormone insulin -
controls blood glucose levels.
What is the role of the adrenal gland in the endocrine system? - ANSWERSecretes adrenaline - controls
the body's 'fight or flight' response.
What is the role of the ovaries in the endocrine system? - ANSWERSecrete oestrogen, which coordinates
the menstrual cycle and the development of female secondary sexual characteristics.
What is the role of the testes in the endocrine system? - ANSWERSecrete testosterone, which
coordinates the production of sperm and the development of male secondary sexual characteristics.
Which organ monitors and controls blood glucose concentration? - ANSWERThe pancreas
How does the pancreas respond when blood glucose levels are too high? - ANSWERThe pancreas
secretes the hormone insulin. Insulin binds to receptors on the liver and muscles, causing excess
glucose to be converted into glycogen and stored.
How does the pancreas respond when blood glucose levels are too low? - ANSWERThe pancreas secretes
the hormone glucagon. Glucagon binds to liver cells, causing glycogen to be converted into glucose and
released into the blood.
How is blood glucose concentration controlled using a negative feedback loop? - ANSWER● When the
blood glucose concentration rises or falls below the optimum, a hormone is secreted by the pancreas.
● The action of either hormone (insulin or glucagon) helps bring back the concentration to the
correct level.
UPDATE SUCCESS ASSUARED
What sequence of events describes how the nervous system works? – ANSWER: Stimulus → receptor →
coordinator → effector → response
What is a reflex action? - ANSWERA reflex action is an automatic and rapid response which does not
involve any conscious input from the brain.
Why are reflex actions important? – ANSWER: Reflex actions aid survival by preventing harm to the body.
Describe how a reflex action occurs via a reflex arc - ANSWER● The stimulus is detected by a receptor.
● An electrical impulse passes along a sensory neurone to the spinal cord (part of the CNS).
● At a synapse between a sensory neurone and a relay neurone, a chemical diffuses across the gap
and stimulates a new impulse which passes along the relay neurone.
● The same process occurs at a synapse between a relay neurone and a motor neurone.
● At the effector, an appropriate response is carried out.
What is the difference between a reflex pathway and a conscious pathway? - ANSWERWithin a reflex
pathway, the coordination centre is a relay neurone found in the spinal cord/unconscious parts of the
brain. In a conscious pathway, the coordination centre is in the conscious part of the brain.
Where is body temperature controlled in the body? - ANSWERBody temperature is controlled by the
thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus of the brain.
How is temperature monitored by the body? - ANSWER● Thermoregulatory centre has receptors
sensitive to blood temperature.
● Skin has receptors sensitive to skin temperature - sends impulses to thermoregulatory centre.
,BIOL EXAM TEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 2022
UPDATE SUCCESS ASSUARED
What physiological changes occur when the body temperature is too high? - ANSWER● Vasodilation -
blood vessels near the surface of the skin dilate - more heat is radiated away.
● Sweating - evaporation of water takes away heat energy from the surface of the skin.
What physiological changes occur when the body temperature is too low? - ANSWER● Vasoconstriction -
blood vessels near the surface of the skin constrict - less heat radiated away.
● Shivering - respiration allows muscles to contract. It is an exothermic process, so heat energy
is released.
● Sweating stops.
Give the name of the body's coordination system which involves hormones - ANSWERThe endocrine
system
What is a hormone? - ANSWERA hormone is a chemical messenger secreted by a gland. It travels in the
blood to a target organ, where it causes a response.
What type of organ secretes hormones? - ANSWERGlands
Which gland controls many other glands in the body? - ANSWERThe pituitary gland
Why is the pituitary gland considered a 'master gland'? - ANSWERIt secretes a wide range of hormones,
some of which may stimulate other endocrine glands.
What is the role of the pituitary gland in the endocrine system? - ANSWER● Secretes human growth
hormone - controls human growth.
● Stimulates the thyroid gland.
● Stimulates ovulation and the production of oestrogen in the ovaries.
● Stimulates the production of sperm and testosterone in the testes.
, BIOL EXAM TEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 2022
UPDATE SUCCESS ASSUARED
What is the role of the thyroid gland in the endocrine system? - ANSWERSecretes the hormone thyroxine
- controls metabolism, heart rate and body temperature.
What is the role of the pancreas in the endocrine system? - ANSWERSecretes the hormone insulin -
controls blood glucose levels.
What is the role of the adrenal gland in the endocrine system? - ANSWERSecretes adrenaline - controls
the body's 'fight or flight' response.
What is the role of the ovaries in the endocrine system? - ANSWERSecrete oestrogen, which coordinates
the menstrual cycle and the development of female secondary sexual characteristics.
What is the role of the testes in the endocrine system? - ANSWERSecrete testosterone, which
coordinates the production of sperm and the development of male secondary sexual characteristics.
Which organ monitors and controls blood glucose concentration? - ANSWERThe pancreas
How does the pancreas respond when blood glucose levels are too high? - ANSWERThe pancreas
secretes the hormone insulin. Insulin binds to receptors on the liver and muscles, causing excess
glucose to be converted into glycogen and stored.
How does the pancreas respond when blood glucose levels are too low? - ANSWERThe pancreas secretes
the hormone glucagon. Glucagon binds to liver cells, causing glycogen to be converted into glucose and
released into the blood.
How is blood glucose concentration controlled using a negative feedback loop? - ANSWER● When the
blood glucose concentration rises or falls below the optimum, a hormone is secreted by the pancreas.
● The action of either hormone (insulin or glucagon) helps bring back the concentration to the
correct level.
