Biology 9700 · AS & A Level · The circulatory system

The circulatory system — practice question

Because the blood pressure is high at the arterial end of the capillary network, some blood components move out of the capillaries and become tissue fluid. At the venous end, plasma proteins help water to move back into the capillaries by osmosis. Fig. 2.1 shows a capillary network, together with the lymph vessels and the blood vessels at the arterial and venous ends of the network.
(a)[2]

Red blood cells and plasma proteins, such as albumin, stay inside the capillaries and are not present in tissue fluid. Explain why red blood cells and albumin do not leave the capillary.

(b)[2]

Name the chemical reagent or reagents used to test a blood plasma sample for protein, and state the colour change that appears if protein is present.

(c)[3]

If a person leaves sea level and spends a few months at high altitude, the number of red blood cells per $\text{mm}^3$ of blood increases. Explain why this increase occurs.

(d)[3]

A reduced blood albumin concentration may cause oedema. Oedema is a tissue swelling caused by tissue fluid collecting around body cells in the capillary network. Suggest and explain how a low blood albumin concentration can lead to oedema.

(e)[1]

Albumin carries some cell signalling molecules from the cells in which they are made to their target cells. These signalling molecules bind to specific cell surface membrane proteins on the target cells. Name the type of membrane protein that the cell signalling molecules bind to.

Worked solution & mark scheme

This 11-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: Proteins are too large to pass through endothelial pores/fenestrations or to cross endothelial cell membranes.

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